AXA Investment Managers has unveiled a series of 'Smart Beta' credit market strategies that have been designed with MySuper products in mind.
According to a white paper released by AXA IM entitled "Investing in Credit: Smart Beta or Dumb Beta?", cap-weighted strategies have failed investors because they lack diversity and do not 'buy and sell' the market well.
"Had you, for example, invested in the global equity index in 1989 you would have invested 50 per cent of your money in Japan - an investment which would subsequently drag down the return from the other markets in the index," according to the white paper. AXA's Smart Beta strategy, on the other hand, avoids overweighting the most indebted issuers by striving to avoid poorly valued or 'at risk' bonds.
Regular monitoring by the AXA Fixed Income team ensures that diversification and credit worthiness of the portfolio is maintained, according to AXA IM director, Australia and New Zealand, Craig Hurt.
"SmartBeta offers a middle ground for those looking to harvest the return of the market whilst still avoiding the inefficiencies of a purely passive approach.
"It is a strategy that is designed with the aim of protecting portfolios from both systemic and event risk and to deliver a less volatile return," said Hurt.
"We believe that our SmartBeta solutions will enable local investors to achieve both the low costs they are seeking while simultaneously resolving the market-capitalisation issues," he added.
Data from Chant West reinforced on Friday that super funds finished April in positive territory despite ‘Liberation Day’-driven market turmoil.
Australia’s superannuation leaders gathered in Melbourne on Thursday for a closed-door forum tackling the escalating impact of artificial intelligence and shifting retirement income models on the sector.
The Treasurer has shown no signs of wavering on the construction of the controversial tax, while Liberal senator Jane Hume has urged the new economics team to “speak sense” to Jim Chalmers.
Volatile markets driven by shifting US tariff policy failed to rattle Australia’s superannuation system in April, with balanced options inching upward.