Qantas Superannuation Plan has begun using a RiskMetrics system to gauge how its $6 billion in assets can withstand various investment risks. The fund, which manages the retirement savings of more than 33,000 Qantas Group employees, started using the RiskMetrics product, called RiskManager, in late June to better track how changes in investment markets affect … Read more
It seems that all of a sudden everyone is talking about risk. The newspapers are screaming at us about the risk of contagion from the European crisis, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority is introducing new standard risk measures for superannuation funds, Dodd-Frank legislation in the United States is all about risk management – the list goes … Read more
Managing conflicts of interest, setting rules for investment executives and thinking about what people want are part of Dick Morath’s fiduciary duty. Morath, a former chief executive of MLC’s retail and corporate fund businesses, influences how billions of dollars of Australians’ money is invested. He is a trustee of MLC Nominees, the board governing two … Read more
Suzanne Pence, director of business development at Hastings Funds Management, will leave in August as the company’s investment staff is tasked with more client contact. Pence joined the Sydney office of Hastings, which manages $7.7 billion in infrastructure assets from its Melbourne headquarters, in July 2010. Her exit comes as the company hires Graham Durant … Read more
AMP Capital has been selected to manage a global listed-real-estate mandate for one of the largest public pension funds in the world, China’s National Council for Social Security Fund (NCSSF). China is a key strategic market for AMP and AMP Capital, having established the group’s representative office in Beijing in 1997. “We are very pleased … Read more
PM Capital’s latest gamble is a global-equity income fund inspired by similar ones in the US that adopt options and currency strategies to help reduce downside risk. The boutique manager has partnered with Zurich and the fund, described by Donohoe as a “halfway house” for investors skittish about global equity markets, will be branded as … Read more
Against a backdrop of market volatility and deep investor disquiet, this year’s research from Create and Principal Global Investors, Market volatility: friend or foe?, seeks to distil the lessons learned from and strategies for navigating this challenging environment successfully. Methodology involved participants first answering questions relating to four key areas. Consequently, emerging investment themes were … Read more
Hastings Funds Management, the Melbourne-based infrastructure asset manager, has expanded its offshore business by gaining a $1.14-billion mandate from the RBS Group Pension Fund. The London-based RBS fund, which oversees about $26 billion in staff retirement savings, chose Hastings to manage infrastructure debt or equity assets in the UK and Europe for its investment portfolio. … Read more
Northern Trust has announced ambitious plans to build its asset servicing business in Australia, with a significant increase in assets and the addition of new staff in its Melbourne office. The custodian expects future growth in master custody and middle-office services for superannuation funds, investment managers, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds. Christopher … Read more
Equipsuper wants to strengthen its financial planning unit under a newly appointed boss, Justin Sadler, a former AIA Financial Services executive. Sadler, who started work at the $4.6-billion industry fund on July 9, will oversee the advice delivered by its financial planners and the expansion of the team beyond five people. He led about 80 … Read more
LUCRF Super, the $3.1-billion superannuation fund, has hired ex-FuturePlus investment analyst Daniel Grioli to help it adapt to volatile markets. Grioli, who joined LUCRF’s nine-person investment team as a senior analyst in late June, will help the fund develop an investment strategy that is more responsive to changes in financial markets. He reports to head … Read more
Geoff Mellor, chief executive of the £20-billion UK fund Coal Pension Trustees (CPT), used his opening words to ask why the audience of Australian superannuation bosses were still in the room. “Do you feel that travelling half-way around the world, sitting in a conference venue and listening to serial speakers is a better use of your time than … Read more
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Investment Magazine provides in-depth, monthly analysis of trends and developments for all the businesses in which superannuation funds engage‚ including asset allocation, investment manager selection, custody and fund accounting, member administration, group insurance and compliance.
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