Future Fund warns investors of FX risks amid geopolitical turmoil
The Future Fund is sounding the alarm on investors’ reliance on the US dollar, warning that shifting global dynamics could upend the currency’s long-standing dominance. Chief investment officer Ben Samild told the Investment Magazine Fiduciary Investors Symposium that the global institutional order is changing, making portfolio construction considerably more challenging.
‘Glued to the Weather Channel’: Investing in insurance-linked securities
Asset owners seeking diversification are turning to insurance-linked securities, including catastrophe bonds, but the Fiduciary Investors Symposium heard the asset class requires quite a bit of caution. Despite strong returns in recent years, losses can be unpredictable and significant.
Leveraged credit 2025 mid-year market review and outlook
The start of US President Trump’s second term introduced significant volatility to the leveraged credit market. Executive orders, trade policies, and elevated interest rates collectively hindered deal flow. The current environment, while turbulent, presents opportunities for active investment managers to identify undervalued credits that offer attractive yields.
‘We should all be asking’: ASIC takes aim at fees, valuations in private credit
ASIC chair Joe Longo says that the corporate cop won’t rush to introduce more regulation into private markets but that he doesn’t want to be “picking up the pieces in three years’ time”. The comments come as ASIC also tightens its focus on delivery of member services, with Longo warning the regulator would pursue enforcement action in response to failure.
Dispersion of private market manager skill a minefield for investors
Super funds and other asset owners are better equipped to navigate the new private credit landscape than retail investors, but they still have a role to play in educating them amidst booming interest in the asset class.
How to do ‘the most good for the most people most of the time’ in retirement
Australia is not alone when it comes to trying to solve the issues that pension fund members face when they retire. An Investment Magazine roundtable, sponsored by T. Rowe Price, has heard that despite the perceived shortcomings of the Australian system’s retirement offerings, the local industry is highly regarded and is being closely watched by its global peers as it develops new products and services.
Asset owners rethink US allocations as ‘momentum’ slows
Australian asset owners are being forced to reconsider their massive exposures to US markets as political and economic upheaval roils the land of the free. But when it comes to investments, is there any meaningful alternative?
Fundamental change of mindset required to tackle retirement challenge
Despite the regulators’ insistence that funds get better at engaging with retiring and retired members, many super funds are stuck in the mindset that they are a product, not service provider. Nailing this transition will be biggest and most challenging task for many funds if they want to retain members as they head into the golden years.
ART warns ASIC on private market evergreen funds, regulatory duplication
The $330 billion Australian Retirement Trust has used its previously confidential submission to ASIC to warn against duplication of an already “comprehensive” private markets regulatory framework while calling out the rapidly growing evergreen fund sector as potentially requiring more oversight.
Funds grapple with political risk in transition race
The Investment Magazine Fiduciary Investors Symposium heard that Australia needs about $500 billion of capital investment to facilitate the energy transition. But asset owners face the question of how to generate long-term resilient returns from an investment thematic that is increasingly politicised.
Retirement advice through super will be far better than no advice
Rather than making advice through super a battleground issue, the focus should be on making it work well, write David Bell and Geoff Warren. Funds have the responsibility and are well-positioned to assist their members who would otherwise receive no advice as they approach and enter retirement.
