JBWere NZ has seen net profits slide more than $8 million year-on-year as rising expenses cut into flat revenue for the soon-to-be-merged wealth management firm. In accounts filed last week, the National Australia Bank (NAB) NZ subsidiary reported net profit after tax of almost $19.5 million over the 12 months to the end of September… [Read More…]
Investment News
Brownsey ends 15-year journey at Pathfinder
Pathfinder chief investment officer (CIO), Paul Brownsey, has resigned after 15 years at the fund house he co-founded with John Berry in 2009. In a note sent to clients last Friday afternoon, Berry said Brownsey would clock out as CIO of Pathfinder and associated Alavrium funds at the end of February. “Paul will spend the… [Read More…]
WTW runs on the spot to win NZ Super race again
Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has won the race to carry out a statutory probe into NZ’s biggest sovereign wealth fund for an unprecedented repeat performance. In a release near the end of last month, Treasury confirmed WTW would run the upcoming five-yearly review of the now $70 billion NZ Superannuation Fund (NZS). The global consulting… [Read More…]
Craigs gains global research grunt, product pipeline in JP Morgan partnership
JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) is set to boost the global research power of Craigs Investment Partners following an agreement signed last week. But the deal may also see the US-headquartered investment giant develop products for the NZ advisory group, according to Craigs head of private wealth and markets, Jeremy Williamson. “There’s a potential to… [Read More…]
FMA taxis ‘outcomes’ pilot on to the runway
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is looking to road-test its proposed ‘outcomes’ style of regulation with a selection of industry guinea-pigs. Samantha Barrass, FMA chief, told a Financial Services Council (FSC) gathering last week that the regulator plans to “pilot” the outcomes-based policing methods “with a small number of firms”. “Participation will be entirely voluntary,”… [Read More…]
KiwiSaver changes on agenda as Bayly confirms COFI break, regulator overhaul
Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly has scheduled KiwiSaver reforms as back of the queue in sweeping changes to the financial services system announced last week. In a speech at a Financial Services Council (FSC) event last week, Bayly dropped a KiwiSaver teaser, noting an intention to change the regime settings “to help New Zealanders save more… [Read More…]
Pinnacle hits A$100bn peak as offshore, NZ flows grow
Offshore flows, including a contribution from NZ investors, helped the ASX-listed multi-affiliate funds distribution firm, Pinnacle Investment Management, to pass the A$100 billion milestone during the last half of 2023. The Pinnacle half-year report filed last week shows international net flows topped A$3 billion during the six months ending December 31 compared to A$1.4 billion… [Read More…]
Constructive criticism: how to resuscitate active investing
Active management isn’t dead, it’s just breathing wrong. Reviewing an earlier 2023 study, specialist investment publication, Practical Applications (PA), concludes active strategies can outperform over the long-term if managers develop better portfolio construction habits. Specifically, the PA report says research by Edward Aw, head of quantitative strategies for US boutique firm Bessemer Trust, suggests most… [Read More…]
KiwiSaver game heats up as Sharesies, Kernel set for $100m club
Competition in the KiwiSaver sector ticked up in the latter half of 2023 as monthly transfer numbers held above 10,000 from May to December, new Inland Revenue Department (IRD) statistics show. If the scheme transfer rate of the last eight months of 2023 holds, the number of members swapping providers would verge on 140,000 –… [Read More…]
Bond proxy party in December quarter, global shares cheer the year, MJW survey shows
Listed real estate and infrastructure funds celebrated a moment in the final quarter of 2023 as falling long-term interest rates boosted the ‘bond proxy’ asset classes, according to the latest Melville Jessup Weaver (MJW) investment survey. All funds in the MJW global listed property universe reported double-digit returns for the three months to the end… [Read More…]