DST International has renamed and restructured itself to become DST Global Solutions, reflecting the fact its largest custodian and funds manager clients are now global players, while it’s also embraced the ‘software as a service’ delivery model over the ‘application service provider’ approach. Returning to work last month after some weeks spent recovering from illness, DST’s Australian CEO Ian Mathieson also predicted that administration of super funds and platforms would be the firm’s biggest growth area in the short-term.
Currency alpha is only for the careful
Foreign exchange has been a rare source of positive return recently, but investors shouldn’t expect a dazzling choice of managers, writes The Cambridge Strategy’s chief executive PETE HENRICKS. One of the few asset classes to perform in recent times has been foreign exchange. Managers in this space have delivered positive returns to investors, whether wholesale or retail. In particular, it has been institutional investors that chose to opt for this “asset class” that have warmly welcomed the positive returns, especially in last year’s volatile investment climate.
Currency alpha is only for the careful
Foreign exchange has been a rare source of positive return recently, but investors shouldn’t expect a dazzling choice of managers, writes The Cambridge Strategy’s chief executive PETE HENRICKS. One of the few asset classes to perform in recent times has been foreign exchange. Managers in this space have delivered positive returns to investors, whether wholesale or retail. In particular, it has been institutional investors that chose to opt for this “asset class” that have warmly welcomed the positive returns, especially in last year’s volatile investment climate.
Get back to basics with risk premia investing
Recent investment returns have been extremely disappointing
for nearly all fund members – especially those who believed their portfolio was
diversified and well balanced. Unfolding events have emphasised the importance
of focusing on risk premia as the basic building blocks of an investment
portfolio, writes Tyndall/Suncorp Investment Management’s SIMON O’GRADY.
Get back to basics with risk premia investing
Recent investment returns have been extremely disappointing for nearly all fund members – especially those who believed their portfolio was diversified and well balanced. Unfolding events have emphasised the importance of focusing on risk premia as the basic building blocks of an investment portfolio, writes Tyndall/Suncorp Investment Management’s SIMON O’GRADY.
Failings of funds management laid bare: competition doesn’t work
The London-based Paul Woolley Centre for Capital Market Dysfunctionality held a workshop in Sydney last month, at the affiliated University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which discussed a range of new research initiatives, including a proposed study about why investors continue to employ active managers. GREG BRIGHT reports.
Failings of funds management laid bare: competition doesn’t work
The London-based Paul Woolley Centre for Capital Market Dysfunctionality held a workshop in Sydney last month, at the affiliated University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which discussed a range of new research initiatives, including a proposed study about why investors continue to employ active managers. GREG BRIGHT reports.
Global consultants adapt to specialisation trend
The investment horizon for super funds has expanded far beyond the traditional asset classes of stocks and bonds. The proliferation of complex alternatives such as hedge funds and private equity is driving a trend towards specialisation in the investment consulting industry as consultants look to allocate research resources more effectively. KRISTEN PAECH reports.
Global consultants adapt to specialisation trend
The investment horizon for super funds has expanded far beyond the traditional asset classes of stocks and bonds. The proliferation of complex alternatives such as hedge funds and private equity is driving a trend towards specialisation in the investment consulting industry as consultants look to allocate research resources more effectively. KRISTEN PAECH reports.
New role for “growthy” credit
At a recent Mercer Investment Forum in Sydney, a straw poll of the audience revealed that more than half would invest in opportunistic credit if given $1 million to invest in just one asset class. The vote followed a debate between four Mercer experts, who argued their corner on four different asset classes – private equity secondaries, opportunistic credit, insurance linked securities and gold. KRISTEN PAECH investigates the credit frenzy and the new role it’s playing in super fund portfolios.
New role for “growthy” credit
At a recent Mercer Investment Forum in Sydney, a straw poll of the audience revealed that more than half would invest in opportunistic credit if given $1 million to invest in just one asset class. The vote followed a debate between four Mercer experts, who argued their corner on four different asset classes – private equity secondaries, opportunistic credit, insurance linked securities and gold. KRISTEN PAECH investigates the credit frenzy and the new role it’s playing in super fund portfolios.
The end of the world is nigh … or is it?
The funds management industry is in trouble. Of that there is little doubt. Head count among the major managers has been cut by at least 10 per cent, according to a Watson Wyatt report last month. Among hedge fund managers, the head count is down an average 20 per cent. And the worst is yet to come, from the funds managers’ business perspective. The Watson Wyatt report says that funds managers started the year with a revenue ‘run rate’ down at least 30 per cent on the start of last year and they were looking to cut total costs by 20 per cent.
