Raphael Arndt, CEO of the Future Fund, said high asset prices are forcing his organisation to build liquidity and consider lower returns. He also worries about rising income inequality.
Industry observers believe asset owners could increasingly turn to low fee passive funds and potentially back off from risky vehicles if new fund rules are introduced next year.
Following the launch of a new initiative, funds like Cbus and Australian Ethical explain how they are working to reduce their portfolio emissions and engage with investee companies.
With no end in sight to the fund merger trend in Australia, funds of under $1 billion in size are under greater pressure to show their worth. There are ways they can do so, say experts.
Amid Australia's first recession in 30 years, the sovereign wealth fund said it rebalanced private assets and used FX, interest rate and duration exposures, but still recorded a loss.
Equity market optimism is undimmed among some CIOs at Australia's superannuation funds. But with markets priced to perfection, questions are raised about future returns.
Capital Group names new Japan president; Robeco replaces Singapore chief; Hillhouse Capital hires ex-Blackstone MD; Vontobel expands EM debt team; HSBC Global AM names Apac ETF sales head; Manulife creates new digital business role; Stanchart names CIO for wealth management; TMF appoints fund services exec in Shanghai; and more.
Experts say the country's debut sovereign wealth fund needs full investing independence to attract international assets, but this appears unlikely according to current plans.
The Korean public pension fund has split its global public market division and will hire 38 personnel across divisions as it looks to drastically increase overseas investments by 2025.
HSBC Global AM appoints new Asia fixed income chiefs; PAG names Japan PE co-heads; EquitiesFirst names Beijing office head; Noah Holdings CIO resigns; Pictet replaces Singapore chief; HKEX names interim CEO; Tahnoon Pasha departs Spencer Stuart and Asia; Newton IM poaches Aviva Investors' CEO.
The number of lenders reducing their Asian exposure is seen to be growing fast amid the coronavirus crisis, leaving asset managers keen to fill the financing gap.
In a recent webinar, AsianInvestor spoke to top experts on emerging market (EM) corporate debt to get a better sense of the opportunities, risks and rewards that investors should be familiar with. To continue the conversation, we followed up with panelists to further explore some key issues.
The past year has seen something of a growth spurt for green bonds, with the market heading toward the $1 trillion milestone, according to data from the Climate Bonds Initiative and Bloomberg. It has also seen the emergence of social bonds, used for social investments with aims such as expanding access to healthcare and education. As well as significant government bond launches, there has been increased issuance from the corporate sector and from a wider range of businesses and industries.
Taiwan’s state pension fund has pledged to regulate external managers more strictly after the bribery scandal, but the additional red tape could turn away some fund houses.
While sustainable investment themes and practices are making steady in-roads across the region, the pace would increase with greater asset choice and standardised data, finds the latest AsianInvestor / S&P Dow Jones Indices ESG poll.