Commissions for agribusiness projects are too high and may be damaging to the long term interests of the industry, according to the Australian Agribusiness Group’s managing director Marcus Elgin...

In each You Asked For It, we ask the public research houses to respond to topical portfolio construction questions of the day. This time it’s strategic asset allocations to property. Have they reviewed their allocations now advisers have access to global property investments? What are those allocations? Only two research houses picked up this particular guantlet: IWL and Lonsec...

In each You Asked For It, we ask the public research houses to respond to topical portfolio construction questions of the day. This fortnight, it’s hedge funds. Are they an asset class? Should they be classified as growth investments, defensive, both or neither? Seven research houses responded…

In each You Asked For It, we ask the public research houses to respond to topical portfolio construction questions of the day. This time it’s emerging markets. What regions are included? What are the advantages and disadvantages to an emerging markets exposure? What asset allocation is appropriate? Only two research houses picked up this particular guantlet…

Specialist asset allocation research house, farrelly’s, has released a paper “Between the Ivory Tower and the Philistines: Practical Asset Allocation” which outlines the academic approach to asset allocation, and the approach taken by most practicing planners, and suggests a middle ground combining the best of both...

Dow Jones Indexes has launched the Dow Jones Australia LPT Index, which tracks the performance of the Listed Property Trust (LPT) securities traded on the Australian Stock Exchange. The index will provide investors with a transparent and objective tool to measure an investment class that has outperformed the major equity market indexes in recent years…

After enjoying strong above-average returns from the Australian sharemarket over the past two calendar years, the Australian equity market provided negative returns in both March and April 2005 – the first time in over two years we’ve seen consecutive months of negative returns. So which fund managers can be expected to outperform in falling markets?

Australian shares and listed property trusts have outperformed residential investment property over 10 years ending 31 December 2004, according to the latest ASX Investments Report…

Australian superannuation funds allocate more to private equity than their European counterparts, and are poised to increase their offshore private equity investment…

As the numbers of hedge funds on offer increases, the lines between hedge funds and traditional asset managers are fading. More traditional managers are establishing a presence in the market, writes Mercer Investment Consulting in its latest Hedge Funds newsletter…

Using agribusiness managed investment schemes in portfolio construction isn’t a new idea, and at this time of year, it is a downright popular strategy. Research house AAG has just released a number of “thinking points” for those considering including agribusiness offerings in an investment portfolio…

Rising interest rates and a resurgence in oil prices proved difficult headwinds for Australian superannuation funds in the March quarter, according to research released by Intech today…

In giving evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services inquiry into Commonwealth Regulation of Property Investment Advice, the FPA expressed its concerns about the lack of effective regulation for property investment advice…

Many advisers put their clients into absolute returns funds because they know intuitively that it is the right thing to do, says Professor Les Balzer. But until now, advisers had no real scientific reason to back up that intuition?

Strong financial performance can be directly linked to good corporate responsibility, according to new research by AMP Capital Investors. The research breaks new ground - although extensive research in this area has been carried out in North America and Europe very little has been undertaken in Australia…

Global property offers investors low volatility, attractive returns with a strong income component, and a low correlation with the returns from other asset classes, according to a recent research paper issued by Russell Investment Group…

Central bankers in several emerging countries are having to explain to politicians why they are hiking interest rates at a time financial continues remain favourable, says Pimco’s managing director, Mohamed El-Erian in Pimco’s latest Emerging Markets Watch…

The real world of economics is very different to that of the text book economics. Pimco managing director, Paul McCulley gives his analysis of the prospective global prices for oil, currencies and retirement incomes, to make his point that considering economics without considering politics gives a view of a world that does not exist...

While it might be tempting, after two years of strong gains in equity markets, to conclude that we have returned to a world of double digit investment returns, the medium-term outlook remains for high single digit returns from equities, and low returns for bonds, warns Dr Shane Oliver, AMP Capital Investor’s chief economist and head of investment strategy…

With unlisted private equity companies comprising such a major part of the economy, it makes sense that they should form part of an investment portfolio as well...