Alternative strategies
This category includes commodity trading advisors (CTAs), global macro, multi-strategy hedge funds, fund-of-hedge-fund products, agribusiness, commodities, private equity and other strategies. That is, this is a broad strategy class. CTAs refer to a style that is not driven by fundamental factors but rather strategies predominantly seeking out price momentum. During times of market stress there
October 20, 2013
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
2013 represents the inaugural year for inclusion of ETFs in the Professional Planner/Zenith Fund Awards. The increasing popularity of ETFs as a way to access a wide range of asset classes in a format that is cost-effective, direct and easy-to-manage for both planners and direct investors alike has seen the market grow very strongly over
October 20, 2013
Australian fixed interest
Using benchmark returns as a reference point, it is clearly evident that absolute returns for the Australian fixed interest market have broadly been low over the past year. This is in contrast to the past couple of years, which witnessed relatively strong gains as rates, credit spreads and overall market volatility generally compressed. Despite the
October 20, 2013
Global and diversified fixed interest
Similar to the Australian fixed interest market, absolute returns from the global fixed interest market have been low over the past year. Global fixed interest markets exhibited extreme volatility in response to actual and potential policy decisions of central banks around the globe as they responded to the different growth dynamics of their underlying economies.
October 20, 2013
Infrastructure
Overall, the listed infrastructure sector performed well over the past 12 months, despite a downturn in more recent months. Performance was supported by investors’ search for yield and a general re-rating of the sector back to longer-term historical averages. Managers within the sector continued to perform strongly relative to the benchmark, with all nine Zenith-rated
October 20, 2013
Direct property
The impact of structural changes to the Australian economy and sluggish economic conditions has continued to flow through to commercial real estate markets. The economy failing to fire, despite repeated interest rate cuts, has been challenging for tenants. Although tenant demand remains generally weak, local buyers remain active, driven by historically cheap debt and yield
October 20, 2013
Global real estate investment trusts (REITs)
In an absolute sense the global REIT sector has performed well over the past 12 months, with the sector benefiting from investors’ search for yield and the actions of central banks and governments globally. Pleasingly, Zenith notes that a number of the global REIT managers have moved to increase the level of active risk in
October 20, 2013
Australian real estate investment trusts (AREITs)
Australian REIT managers have continued to experience positive momentum, with Australian REITs returning to more conservative and traditional business models. Over the past 12 months, the REIT component of the S&P/ASX 300 Index has experienced stronger returns than the broader constituents of the index whilst also performing strongly relative to global REITs. More managers were
October 20, 2013
Distributor of the Year
Recognises excellence in the sales, marketing and distribution of externally managed investment products. While new inflow represents a key consideration in the assessment of distributor of the year, it is also an assessment of fund retention (an often overlooked sales metric) and quality of information flow, documentation and service to both Zenith and its financial
October 20, 2013
Fund Manager of the Year
Recognises excellence in the management of multiple asset classes and strategies. In order to be eligible for the Fund Manager of the Year award, managers must have been nominated as a finalist in two or more categories. The winner is then determined by the total score the manager generates under Zenith’s proprietary scoring system for
October 20, 2013
Rowe: due respect for financial planners
The chair of the Financial Planning Association has called for greater respect to be paid to the role played by planners in the financial services “ecosystem”. Matthew Rowe says the language of product, sales and distribution remains entrenched within financial institutions, and an ongoing challenge for the community is to change that language in order
October 18, 2013
Balmain responds to turmoil directly
The changing demands of self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees as they enter retirement, and concerns over potential barriers between asset managers and investors created by platforms, have prompted the boutique fund manager Balmain Funds to adopt a different tack to getting its wares to market. Property market veteran and Balmain chief executive officer, Steve Tunley,
October 18, 2013
