A new clutch of managers has signed on with online fund platform, InvestNow, with five Fisher Funds products first off the rank. InvestNow founder, Anthony Edmonds, said as well as Fisher a queue of other well-known NZ managers including Devon, Nikko, Salt and the NZX-owned SmartShares would soon go live on the platform. Edmonds said… [Read More…]
Investment News
Growing divide in risk profile hits KiwiSaver returns, MJW survey
Divergent asset allocations have come to the fore again in the KiwiSaver market with Milford Asset Management producing stand-out results – at both ends of the scale, the latest Melville Jessup Weaver (MJW) quarterly investment survey shows. According to the MJW report, the Milford KiwiSaver growth option finished bottom of class for the March quarter… [Read More…]
Fisher fades as Mercer mounts late retail run in 2016
Mercer struck form in the December quarter after growing NZ retail funds under management (FUM) by almost 11 per cent, more than double the rate of its nearest competitor, new data from Australian research firm Strategic Insight (SI) shows. The performance saw Mercer grow retail FUM by about $500 million over the three-month period, closing… [Read More…]
How millennials are keeping it real (for property investors)
Investors in US listed apartment funds look set to benefit from the country’s ‘millennial’ makeover and declining home ownership, according to new AMP Capital research. The ‘Generation rent’ white paper says the structural shifts implied by the maturing city-dwelling ‘millennials’ – or those born between 1980-2004 – and a sustained post-GFC slump in home-ownership support… [Read More…]
Disruptor overload: why too many fintechs can spoil the profit
The fintech focus on disruption has led to an “almost self-defeating” business environment, according Australian consultant, Kingsley Jones, where a plethora of disparate entities are scrapping over limited revenues. Jones, in New Zealand earlier this month on a Harbour Asset Management speaking gig, said the huge global investment in fintech ‘disruptors’ in recent years has… [Read More…]
The rosy outlook for commodities investors
Commodities as an asset class have always inspired vigorous discussion, from academics who question the risk premia to investors who are wary of the relatively short cycles. But the current environment is looking very good, at least on the cyclical front. Two of Australia’s most experienced commodities specialists, brothers Andrew and Mathew Kaleel, believe that… [Read More…]
JMIS goes clear with new PIE recipe, back-office deal with Devon
The Auckland-based JMIS has rebranded its $275 million portfolio investment entity (PIE) funds arm while doubling the product range with the launch of three new funds last week. Previously known as JMIS Investment Management, the newly-badged Clarity Funds Management has added the Diversified Income, Diversified Growth and Global Shares to its existing PIE suite. JMIS,… [Read More…]
Anglican scheme looks for ethical uplift
The rising demand for socially responsible investment (SRI) options has sparked renewed interest in niche ‘ethical’ funds, according to Anglican Pension Board general manager, Mark Wilcox. Wilcox said the Anglican Pension Board – which runs about $200 million across several funds, including the almost $40 million Koinonia KiwiSaver scheme – is looking to “leverage” its… [Read More…]
Industry tech redesign puts Mosaic in the picture
Specialist NZ consultancy firm, Mosaic Financial Services Infrastructure, has doubled turnover over the previous 12 months as the industry looks to install technological upgrades across the value chain. Myles Allan, Mosaic founding partner, said growth in funds under management, ongoing regulatory changes and advances in technology had put pressure on legacy systems from the front… [Read More…]
Wilson claims a big scalp in Hunter Hall tussle
Paul Jensen, the chair of Hunter Hall’s troubled LIC, Hunter Hall Global Value Fund (ASX: HHV), was last week removed from the board. Geoff Wilson, his protagonist and chair of HHV’s largest shareholder, says this begins the board renewal process. But two other opponents survived the meeting. At the extraordinary meeting on April 6, which… [Read More…]