Investment News

The combination of emerging markets and small caps can deliver an enduring premium for patient investors. That is certain, or as certain as anything can be in the investment world. Some big global managers, such as BNP Paribas Investment Partners, are combining them with interesting results. According to Donald Smith, who was recruited from Turner… [Read More…]

Fund names that insinuate a level of underlying risk will have to closely match regulator-approved volatility ranges under revised Financial Markets Authority (FMA) proposals released earlier this month. In a discussion document released on July 6, the FMA called for further industry feedback on its updated ‘risk indicator’ design first issued last December. The FMA… [Read More…]

With the endorsement of NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Victor Dominello, Ian Dunbar’s portal-come-community for Australian and New Zealand fintech, called Afiniation, was formally launched last week. A mix of more than 50 start-up hopefuls and established players crammed into the NSW Department of Industry’s offices in Sydney’s MLC Centre to hear Dunbar,… [Read More…]

Creditors of the now-defunct van Eyk Advice NZ could face a long wait before recouping debts, according to the firm’s second liquidator’s report published last Friday. The KPMG report identified total claims to date on van Eyk Advice NZ of about $1.6 million, excluding related party claims, but notes any repayment would hinge on the… [Read More…]

Despite analysis suggesting it would be “most efficient” to close the almost-drained Earthquake Commission (EQC) investment fund, the government has backed its continued existence in a discussion document published last week. However, on current settings it will be a long recovery for the EQC’s National Disaster Fund (NDF), which by the end of the year… [Read More…]

JP Morgan is understood to be in the box seat to take out the unified custodian role at the $37 billion Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) fund. While an ACC spokesperson said “nothing’s been finalised regarding the custody appointment”, industry sources said JP Morgan has emerged as the likely winner as tipped earlier this year. JP… [Read More…]

Mercer is about to appoint a new securities servicing partner for its $25 billion under management in investment and super trusts – Northern Trust – following a review. The news, expected to be announced this month, is another blow for incumbent NAB Asset Servicing. The review commenced last year and by earlier this year it… [Read More…]

Chinese firm CITIC Group has overtaken Towers Watson as lead bidder for Russell Investments, according to a Reuters report published last week. Reuters says CITIC could pay about US$1.8 billion for the Russell investment and consulting business, which current owner the London Stock Exchange (LSE) officially put on the market this February. “The negotiations are… [Read More…]

Portfolio investment entity (PIE) funds have delivered about $135 million more tax than expected, or about a third of the above-forecast revenue reported in the latest government 11-month accounts. “PIE revenue for the 11 months to 31 May 2015 was approximately $600 million compared to our forecast of $465 million,” a Treasury spokesperson told Investment… [Read More…]