Australia

Changes at Prudential Corporation Asia were popular among our readers in April, who also showed interest in China's $3 trillion mutual fund market and Australia's super fund mergers.

Positive developments on climate reporting are all very well, but experts believe investor engagement and disclosure alone will not achieve 'net zero' emission targets.

As pressure mounts on superannuation funds to lower fees and maintain good returns, will they become more tempted to lean away from ESG?

Interest in non-fungible tokens has fallen nearly as quickly as it rose, but its underlying technologies still hold potential for institutional investors, experts say.

Boe Pahari to leave as AMP Limited demerges; Temasek backs Indonesian telemedicine startup; Korea Post and GEPS looking to hire fund managers; GIC and Sequoia India co-lead funding for Razorpay; AustralianSuper appoints senior manager of portfolio strategy; Thailand's new pension fund to draw $1.7 billion; Taiwan fines fund houses over BLF bribery scandal; CPPIB doubles investment in Korean logistics JV

NZ Super promotes Joe Halapua to manage local equities; MLC Life hires CFO; Khazanah names former EPF executive for private fund investments; head of capital management; Citi aims to hire 2,000 in Asia wealth management ramp-up; HSBC makes distribution and digital wealth banking promotions; Vice-president of China's social security fund departs; and more.

Experts overwhelmingly point to China as the market with the most potential for renewable energy, but asset owners have invested in other Apac markets such as Australia and India.

Australia's retirement funds are increasingly merging to gain scale and investing heft. But these consolidations offer investing challenges that need to be overcome.

AUSfund to close; Michelle Boucher shifts from Cbus to First Super; Adia and CDPQ become anchor investors into Indian property developer Macrotech; Indonesia's president sets $200b size for new sovereign wealth fund; Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance to invest $4.55b via new M&A fund; Netherlands' PGGM commis A$350m to Australian property fund and more.

Swiss Re hires head of China asset management business; BlackRock deregisters its China WFOE; DWS names head of Apac insurance coverage; Amundi appoints first Asia sustainability officer; Manulife IM appoints senior portfolio manager for asset allocation; Morgan Stanley IM hires portfolio manager for A-shares; and more.

A range of issues prevent pension funds and insurers from fully embracing opportunities in infrastructure. A closer alignment of interests would help plug the gap, say regional players.

Australia's superannuation industry will soon comprise four to five A$200 billion megafunds, with room for a few smaller, niche funds, experts say.

CPPIB, Omers and OTPP are busy hiring in the region for investment talent in credit, real assets and particularly equities. Omers is also planning to add office space in Singapore.

Australia's Future Fund sees three senior executives leave; Australia Post Super discusses potential merger with Sunsuper; Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund to get $10b from the United Arab Emirates; Dai-ichi Life invests $4.6m in immunotherapy startup; KIC of Korea opens San Francisco office; Vertex Holdings of Temasek looking to raise $800m; and more.

Dry powder targeting Asia Pacific assets hit a peak last year, which has fuelled private equity investor concerns over high valuations, finds a Bain & Company report.

Panellists at AsianInvestor’s Insurance Investment Week said environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors can help long term investing but complicate insurance risk pricing.

Asset owners can influence gender parity efforts in listed companies by engaging with companies or investing in passive indices.

Last year's events forced the sovereign wealth fund to take a short-term view on risks despite its long-term mandate.

The new US president's focus on diplomacy and multilateralism could benefit emerging market equities and it could place a broader array of pressure on China.

CIO Sue Brake explains how the fund's approach allows it to remain flexible, how it is reacting to heightened volatility and how her joined-up mantra will help it avoid inflation.