Newspaper icon
The latest issue of Financial Standard now available as an e-newspaper
READ NOW

Editor's Choice

Macquarie AM expands $300m active ETF platform

MATTHEW WAI  |   12:44PM
Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) has launched two actively managed fixed income ETFs, bringing its total offerings to seven - four in fixed income and three in equity - with over $300 million assets under management.

AustralianSuper warns outdated tax laws will hurt returns

ANDREW MCKEAN  |   12:46PM
AustralianSuper has called for a modernised tax system, warning that without reform super funds will at the very least be bogged down by complexity and compliance costs - and likely left at a competitive disadvantage that could drag on returns.

RBA delivers 'cautious' cut, road ahead unclear

ELIZA BAVIN  |   12:20PM
The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered its first interest rate cut since November 2020, but where it goes from here is anyone's guess.

ASIC proposes further breach reporting relief

ANDREW MCKEAN  |   12:47PM
ASIC is proposing additional relief for financial services businesses, which would scrap the need to report minor or technical breaches that don't result in a financial loss.

Financial Planning

Platforms placate fee consent ordeal: SuitabilityHub

KARREN VERGARA   Platforms have vastly improved their bulk processing capabilities, particularly as financial advisers come to dread the new fee consent renewal process, SuitabilityHub managing director Recep Peker says.

Fiducian FUMAA swell to $14.4bn

KARREN VERGARA   Fiducian Group reported an 11% increase in funds under management, administration, and advice (FUMAA) to $14.4 billion thanks to improved inflows and the steady rise of the financial markets.

Investment

Macquarie AM expands $300m active ETF platform

MATTHEW WAI  |    12:44PM   Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) has launched two actively managed fixed income ETFs, bringing its total offerings to seven - four in fixed income and three in equity - with over $300 million assets under management.

Dexus delivers profit, flags 'turning point'

ELIZA BAVIN  |    12:22PM   Dexus has reported a net profit of $10 million, marking a major turnaround from its $597 million loss in HY24.

Insurance

Treasury consults on genetic test ban in life insurance

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   The industry can now provide feedback on the proposed ban on the use of adverse genetic test results in life insurance.

Resolution Life completes NZ$410m life business transaction

MATTHEW WAI   Resolution Life's trans-Tasman life insurer, Resolution Life Australasia, has completed the acquisition of Asteron Life New Zealand.

SMSF

Gen X remains the largest cohort in SMSF establishments: Class

MATTHEW WAI  |    12:39PM   Generation X and Millennials collectively drove more than 97% of new self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) establishments for the six months to 31 December 2024, according to a new report from Class.

ASIC updates on SMSF advice review

ELIZA BAVIN   The regulator is conducting surveillance of personal advice provided to retail clients about establishing SMSFs.

Economics

Global tariffs to spike under Trump: Economist

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:37PM   Global average tariffs could balloon at levels not seen since the turn of the century and result in higher inflation and interest rates, according to a top economist.

RBA delivers 'cautious' cut, road ahead unclear

ELIZA BAVIN  |    12:20PM   The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered its first interest rate cut since November 2020, but where it goes from here is anyone's guess.

Regulatory

ASIC proposes further breach reporting relief

ANDREW MCKEAN  |    12:47PM   ASIC is proposing additional relief for financial services businesses, which would scrap the need to report minor or technical breaches that don't result in a financial loss.

Foreign investors banned from buying homes

ELIZA BAVIN   The Albanese government will ban foreign investors from buying established homes for at least two years.

Executive Appointments

Future Generation appoints chief investment officer

ANDREW MCKEAN   Future Generation has appointed its first chief investment officer from Perpetual.

Partners Wealth Group appoints new head of Partners Private

ANDREW MCKEAN   Partners Wealth Group has appointed a new head of its wholesale investments business, Partners Private.

Superannuation

AustralianSuper warns outdated tax laws will hurt returns

ANDREW MCKEAN  |    12:46PM   AustralianSuper has called for a modernised tax system, warning that without reform super funds will at the very least be bogged down by complexity and compliance costs - and likely left at a competitive disadvantage that could drag on returns.

HUB24 engulfs ClearView's remaining superannuation business

KARREN VERGARA  |    12:29PM   HUB24 expects its $121 billion in funds under administration (FUA) to surge even further as it takes on ClearView's superannuation and pension business, WealthFoundations.

Technology

AustralianSuper welcomes AI tech competition

ELIZA BAVIN   As a major investor in Nvidia, AustralianSuper has welcomed the emergence of DeepSeek, despite wiping $1 trillion off the chip maker's market cap.

mFunds sparked ASX outage, $1m credit issued

KARREN VERGARA   The ASX said the outage from last month largely stemmed from the now-defunct mFunds and will subsequently credit participants $1 million to make amends.

Family Office

Local family office backs new venture to invest in climate tech

ANDREW MCKEAN   The family office of Daniel Besen has become an anchor investor in new venture capital firm Climate Tech Partners, investing in "innovative software and hardware companies" accelerating decarbonisation.

Binance Labs becomes a family office

KARREN VERGARA   Binance Labs has transformed into a family office known as YZi Labs in a bid to expand its investment focus and step away from blockchain-focused investments.