Australia

The Australian sovereign investor is fighting battles on a number of fronts and is keen to quell the discussion about it becoming a potential default superannuation fund manager.

The Australian sovereign fund's chairman wants the fund to be turned into a manager of superannuation assets, but the idea has gained little credibility with super industry insiders.

Hostplus is using the youth of its investors to make heavy bets in illiquid assets. Deputy CIO Greg Clerk explained how to AsianInvestor.

AsianInvestor explains why Commonwealth Superannuation Corp impressed for governance, Future Fund led for investment capabilities and GPIF's innovation shone.

Speaking at an AsianInvestor event, top executives at the Australian superannuation fund and UK-based insurer explain their considerations when choosing external managers.

AsianInvestor reveals why the top institutional investors for Australia/New Zealand and China were the most impressive across the entire region.

Real estate prices are widely seen as peaking in markets such as Australia and Japan, but there remains huge demand for the asset class, finds new PwC research.

Australia’s sovereign wealth fund has also trimmed its exposure to stocks and bonds as asset managers take their most downbeat stance on global growth for 10 years.

The chief executive of one of Asia's leading asset owners on managing climate change risk in portfolios speaks to AsianInvestor on the progress made so far.

The Australian super fund is looking at opportunities in specialised credit segments in the hunt for better yield, its alternatives strategies portfolio manager says.

The Australian superfund also increasingly prefers to take a more direct, co-investment approach, partly due to the potential for fee savings.

The sovereign wealth fund plans to utilise its global sourcing network to access private equity and other illiquid assets to boost returns within a conservative risk framework.

Bringing in a European with a record of turning around businesses at the top may not solve the Australian investment and insurance group's credibility problem, say industry observers.

The move forms part of a broader shift into "alpha-generating sectors" even as the $18 billion pension fund grows more cautious about the global economic outlook.

Amid the industry-wide criticisms being levelled at the Australian superannuation industry are claims that both funds and super players need to merge together. It won't be easy.

The failings of Australia's superannuation industry, which were revealed in a detailed recent report, underline the benefits of keeping pension systems simple and transparent.

Superannuation funds dominate Australia's rankings in the survey, but their fee activities are being investigated, and rising interest rates are forcing them to shift their assets.

Government initiatives, strong equities returns, and acquisitions were some of the key drivers to AUM growth for asset owners in Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The improvement of these asset owners is based on strong equity investments, but they are tempering their growth expectations for this year, amid a search for alternatives.

For some larger asset owners, currently high PE valuations are discouraging, while for smaller funds, the high fees are prompting a re-think in allocations.