Australia

Government support in carbon neutrality, plus regulation overhauls in the cybersecurity space, have created a favourable environment to further diversify into green stocks.

AustralianSuper, Aware Super and Cbus continue to be optimistic about equity returns after posting their best performance in decades, even as half of Australia goes under lockdown.

QIC expands global private debt team with three new hires; Sydney Airport bid by consortium fails; Dajia Insurance Group up for sale for $5.18 billion; China Baowu Steel Group to launch carbon-neutral fund; Indonesia's new wealth fund studying 50 companies for investment; NPS adds Kosdaq-listed blue chips; Macau's SSF's income and returns fall; and more.

Chief investment officer Sue Brake says the Australian sovereign wealth fund is eyeing private markets as it navigates a way through the 'new paradigm' left in the wake of Covid.

The Australian's Asic launches ESG fund review for greenwashing; Cbus hires from Apra; Hesta hires from AMP Life; Dai-ichi Life Insurance invests $50 million in climate infra fund; Korea's GEPS awards $105 million overseas infra mandates; Teachers' Pension calls for bids; QIA increases Credit Suisse stake; and more.

ESG has increasingly been ingrained into asset owners' investment policies, including the external fund managers they hire, according to institutional investor executives.

Low to zero fees for co-investments mean higher returns, but opportunities are generally limited to institutional investors that can allocate dedicated resources.

Hesta hires Hostplus ESG head; Prudential head of HNW solutions joins Transamerica Life Bermuda; Chubb appoints Philippines country president; QIC chief executive to retire in 2022; Amundi adds ESG investment specialist; Aviva Investors expanded EM debt team with three hires; HSBC private banking regional head retires; and more

The Australian pension fund joins other asset owners in eyeing private credit opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, although liquid defensive assets retain a majority of allocations.

Institutions and family offices alike are sharpening their focus on themed investments to prepare for transition to low carbon economy.

Record low borrowing costs in Australia are feeding demand for the country's real estate, with domestic and global investors raising their allocations into the sector.

The Australian fund, formerly known as Local Government Super, is drawn to share markets but does not plan add alternative assets because of liquidity constraints and fee pressures.

Norway's Oil Fund welcome Chinese proposals improving transparency and shareholder protection; HK's MPF assets surge 35% year on year; Korea's NPS commits $100m to TPG consortium to invest in taxi-hailing app; Poba commits W270bn to European property; Malaysia's EPF sees investment income rise 59% year-on-year in first quarter, and more.

As Covid restrictions continue to put the bite on travel, Australia's superannuation funds are seeing mileage in spending big on communications and digital infrastructure.

Sunsuper and QSuper appoint CIO for combined entity; State Street appoints heads of HK and Taiwan; Nothern Trust rebuilds Apac team; Manulife IM names emerging markets fixed income CIO; RBC Wealth Management hires four into HK; Lombard Odier hires two senior equity managers; Allianz Global Investors appoints Asia hand as equity CIO; and more.

Rising prices appear to be mostly transitory but could begin to pose broader concerns if they remain elevated for a long period, the asset owner believes.

Experts believe the move is opportune as the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund seeks to expand its positions in the country’s real estate and infrastructure sectors.

GIC to open new Sydney office; Japan's life insurers to ramp up allocations to foreign bonds; Samsung Life acquires stake in Savills IM; Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund to invest in infrastructure; CPP Investments forms JV for mall in Kolkata; Goldman Sachs Asset Management to set up Chinese wealth management firm with ICBC; and more.

LGIAsuper CIO Troy Rieck is seeking greater efficiencies and reduced costs from the merger with Energy Super, another Queensland-based super fund

Everything from electric vehicles to energy-efficient building upgrades will need hefty investment if governments are to meet their net-zero ambitions.