Investor interest in the listed infrastructure remains strong despite experienced equity-like volatility in 2008, exacerbated by high levels of gearing, according to a Standard & Poor's sector review.
S&P Fund Services analyst Simone Arblaster said institutional pension plans in particular have "long been attracted to the long-duration inflation-linked and relatively stable investment characteristic of this sector".
Arblaster said an "interesting observation" from the review was just how critical the choice of benchmark is in the listed infrastructure sector.
"Unlike most other asset classes, the market is still coming to terms with how listed infrastructure managers should be measured and benchmarked."
The review, including five international managers and one domestic manager, assigned two new ratings and noted three withdrawals.
Goldman Sachs JBWere Australian Infrastructure Wholesale fund was the biggest mover in the review, up from three stars to four stars, while UBS Global Infrastructure Securities Fund was closed.
Australia’s neutral cash rate may lie above pre-pandemic levels, driven by rising productivity outside of the mining industry.
Nominations and submissions have opened for this year’s Super Fund of the Year Awards.
The industry body has cautioned the government against implementing unnecessary regulations for private market investments, with ASIC currently exploring reforms in this space.
The industry fund has appointed Natalie Alford as its new chief risk officer, strengthening its executive team during a period of transformation.