Data centres: ‘Green’ is in the eye of the beholder

Green data centres are hot assets in an even hotter sector, as investors get to grips with the existential need to make these power gobblers energy-efficient. But a real estate ESG expert says the exact meaning of the word “green” is hard to define in this context.

FSC pushes back on YFYS expansion

The peak body for retail funds and asset managers, the Financial Services Council, has argued the Your Future Your Super performance test should stick to monitoring simpler financial products, like MySuper and basic Choice. The FSC believes the performance test is best applied to set and forget products, rather than via channels that cater to personalised and advised channels.

Retail funds making inroads but too soon to declare comeback

After years of being outperformed by industry funds, retail funds are making the most of their improved performance in FY24, boosted by a strong sharemarket. However, industry experts suggest it might be too early to declare that the retail super sector is turning around, and that “stablising” might be a better description.

Study gives evidence of value-add from TPA over SAA

The funds that take a total portfolio approach added 1.8 per cent per annum over 10 years above those that use strategic asset allocation, according to a recent Thinking Ahead Institute study of 26 asset owners, including the Future Fund. And the systems-thinking TPA approach, with the benefits of dynamism and joined-upness, will help asset owners in an environment of increasing complexity according to the report’s author, Roger Urwin.

Prevention better than cure in improving members’ insurance outcomes

The insurance industry has found success in shifting from just paying claims to rehabilitation programs that get as many people back to work as possible. Now its attention is turning to prevention program and reducing the incidence of insurance claims in the first place.

Shadow minister strikes conciliatory tone on industry super funds

Just one week after Coalition Senator Andrew Bragg questioned the compulsory, default settings of the superannuation system, Shadow Minister for Financial Services Luke Howarth has used an industry event to express support for both compulsion and for profit-to-member funds.