Financial Standard

MUFG expands InvestStream partnership with minority stake

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   MUFG Retirement Solutions has expanded its partnership with InvestStream by acquiring a minority interest in technology provider.

Count makes 'largest' equity partnership acquisition

MATTHEW WAI   ASX-listed Count Group has acquired a majority stake in Skybridge Financial, merely days after snapping up a 30% interest in Brisbane's Apiary Financial.

Instos lower active risk to 'eke out more alpha': Acadian

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Large superannuation funds are reallocating from their passive books, and in some cases away from discretionary managers, and moving it into lower-risk systematic strategies, according to Acadian Asset Management (AAM).

Future Fund returns 11% as portfolio reaches $290bn

VINNY VUCAGO   Future Fund has delivered an 11% return over the year to September, adding $28.7 billion to its portfolio as the sovereign wealth fund navigates persistent inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and shifting global capital markets.

Life insurers urged to act earlier on claims

VINNY VUCAGO   Life insurers are being urged to request information earlier and improve communication with customers to prevent avoidable delays in claims decisions, following an industry review that found repeated gaps in the handling of longer-running claims.

TPD claims drive insurance disputes

VINNY VUCAGO   Australia's life insurers continue to accept most claims, but total and permanent disability (TPD) and disability income insurance claims remain the main sources of disputes and delays, according to the latest data from APRA and ASIC.

Women more likely to retire earlier than planned: Vanguard

VINNY VUCAGO   Australian women are more likely than men to leave the workforce earlier than anticipated, with new Vanguard research highlighting persistent gaps in retirement confidence and financial preparedness.

Guaranteed income gives retirees 'licence to spend': JPMAM

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Retirees with a higher share of guaranteed income spend 44% more, according to J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) portfolio manager and head of target date strategies Daniel Oldroyd.

ASX capital raisings fall, derivatives activity climbs

VINNY VUCAGO   Capital raising activity on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) contracted sharply in October, while derivatives trading increased, reflecting divergent activity across the market.

RBA delivers another hike in split decision

ELIZA BAVIN   The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered its fifth interest rate hike this year, but the monetary board was split in its decision.

ASIC raises red flags on prediction markets

KARREN VERGARA   ASIC chair Sarah Court has warned retail investors to be wary of "highly speculative" prediction markets, likening them to betting.

ASIC consults on market operator financial resources requirements

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   ASIC is consulting on proposals for clearer guidance on financial resources requirements for licensed market operators in Australia.

ECP's Andrew Dale departs for new venture

MATTHEW WAI   ECP Asset Management partner Andrew Dale has left the company, wrapping up his nearly 13-year tenure at the firm.

State Street names new APAC investment lead

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   State Street Investment Management (SSIM) has named a new senior managing director and head of investments for Asia Pacific, nabbing Amundi's head of investments for Asia.

AustralianSuper scores Moody's top credit rating

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   AustralianSuper has become the first Australian superannuation fund to receive an AAA long-term issuer rating from Moody's. It has assigned a stable outlook to the rating.

CSC relaunches Vets Hub

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) has relaunched its online platform, Vets Hub, helping Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

Human judgement remains key to AI advantage: GBAM

VINNY VUCAGO   Artificial intelligence (AI) is unlikely to provide asset managers with a lasting competitive edge on its own, with the Group of Boutique Asset Managers (GBAM) arguing its value will depend on personal judgment and expertise applied alongside the technology.

FBI accuses North Korea of $9bn Binance crypto heist

MATTHEW WAI   North Korea has been accused of being the culprit behind the $9 billion (US$6.3bn) cryptocurrency heist from global digital asset platform Binance that took place last week.

Australia's family offices surpass $323bn in assets

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Family offices in Australia have surpassed $323 billion in assets, according to data from Rainmaker Information.

Mining, property fuel Aussie billionaires' wealth

KARREN VERGARA   Australian billionaires' riches are highly concentrated in mining, financial services, technology and property, accounting for 0.7% of the total US$15.1 trillion in global wealth studied by the 2026 Billionaire Census.