The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is making good on promises to combat greenwashing, issuing its second set of fines against a company for misrepresenting the ESG bona fides of an investment product.
Recent research reveals high-net-worth investors have reduced slightly in number since last year while accumulating slightly more investable assets, with this cohort taking a “more subdued outlook” for the coming year. Investors’ asset class preference is also evolving to favour defensive investments.
The need to balance three key and “sometimes-competing” goals in the energy transition is central to the success of global efforts to decarbonise, but the challenge also presents ample room for opportunity, Paul Johnston of Ausbil Asset Management recently told participants at The Inside Network’s industry-first ESG Retreat in Tasmania.
While the greater housing market is already reflecting the pain of constricting economic conditions, a new property fund partnership between Trilogy Funds and Michael Birch’s Murray Darling Capital shows the potential of ‘rent roll’ portfolios of rental property management agreements to provide exposure to the supersized Australian property sector even as the outlook darkens.
The Treasury has released for public consultation draft legislation aimed at closing a tax loophole for off-market share buybacks, prompting renewed fears over the future of franking credits despite assurances that mum-and-dad investors will not be affected.
Sentiment around retirement prospects is declining across the board in Australia, with millionaires almost as likely as less affluent investors to believe it would take a miracle to retire securely. Recent reports highlight the correlation between the new economic uncertainty and reduced confidence in a comfortable retirement.
The US$10 trillion-plus exchange-traded funds market offers low-cost access to diversified investment opportunities, and Australian investors are capitalising, making A$10 billion in returns over the past year.
With inflation, interest rate hikes and other economic stress weighing heavily on Australian households, key recent data show consumer sentiment approaching new lows while overall spending continues to climb.
The Australian Taxation Office’s recent annual report shows a growing gap between collectable and collected tax figures, prompting the agency to go after delinquencies as the post-pandemic economic recovery continues.
Commonwealth Bank-owned brokerage platform CommSec and former CBA subsidiary AUSIEX have been hit with $27 million in fines for violating ASIC’s market integrity rules, in the largest-ever penalty handed down for such breaches.
