The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) is making it easier for financial planners to access CHESS via a new method – Account Participation – which it will launch at this week’s Financial Planning Association conference.
Capital advice: roundabouts, merging and the road to the future
Last month two of the elite dealer groups in the country, Centrestone and Berkley, combined to form Centric Wealth with the aim of becoming the advice brand for the nation’s wealthy. Roger Hancock, who headed up the Canberra Berkley practice, talks about the merger, his own practice and how to keep high net worth clients happy.
Choice of Fund – the battle’s not over yet
Research commissioned by ASFA shows only a small proportion of super fund members has switched funds since the introduction of Choice of Fund in July and a majority of members are “not at all likely” to change.
Australian Unity Investments Strategic Fixed Interest Trust
Australian Unity launches an Australian fixed interest trust for retail and wholesale investors.
Everest Babcock & Brown Masters Fund
Everest Capital offers wholesale investors access to a portfolio of absolute return funds.
MOmentum managers go long/short for charity
Calling it their own ‘long/short strategy’ a group of funds management executives is raising money for charity by either growing or shaving off a moustache.
AMP finds new CIO in-house
AMP Capital Investors has appointed Mark O’Brien, an AMP stalwart, as its next chief investment officer, to replace Merv Peacock who retires next month.
Fund of the Year winner a boost for alternative investments usage
The $3 billion MTAA Super Fund, an industry fund which has more than 40 per cent of its assets in private equity and other unlisted investments, has won the Fund of the Year Award for 2005.
India fund to spice up multi-manager melting pot
Listed financial services company Fiducian is understood to be developing an Indian manage-the-manager product. The product, if launched, would be the second Indian fund available in Australia along with the Fidelity International India Fund, which was made available in September.
‘Gay’ jibe sparks up super fund ratings debate
A crowded session on ‘Rating the Raters’ at the ASFA conference last week highlighted the unease felt by super funds – and their association – at the growing importance of the fledgling fund ratings sector of the industry
Life gets shorter for Aon
Aon’s financial planning arm has struck a deal with Axa and Comminsure to act as preferred suppliers of life insurance products and will add two or three others to the list soon.
Mercer backs alpha-searching bonds with IXIS-Loomis Sayles fund
The $10 billion Mercer implemented consulting trusts have backed the trend to using fixed interest managers as high-alpha providers by seeding a new IXIS-Loomis Sayles global absolute return credit opportunities fund with $40 million.
