Lonsec gives thumbs up to two managers
AllianceBernstein and BetaShares have both been given positive ratings from research house Lonsec for niche fund offerings.
Lonsec assigned a Recommended rating to the AllianceBernstein Emerging Consumer Fund with AB, Chief Executive — Australia, Jen Driscoll stating the fund offered access to consumption growth in emerging markets, which was expected to reach US$30 trillion a year by 2025.
The fund has been available since late April with Lonsec stating AB's grassroots research as a "unique approach which may yield unique insights into emerging consumer trends".
AB, Portfolio Manager - Emerging Consumer, Tassos Stassopoulos said the group spoke directly with consumers about their spending habits, hopes and aspirations and avoided indices "which include companies which are, in our view, yesterday's success stories, not tomorrow's".
Lonsec also assigned a Recommended rating to the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF launched in May this year stating the fund provides access to the growth potential of an industry that was difficult for the retail market to invest in.
Lonsec also stated the fund's Australian-domiciled structure offered greater administration simplicity and tax certainty than cross-listed ETFs.
BetaShares, Managing Director, Alex Vynokur said the rating was an independent recognition of the fund's strategy.
"As the only ETF in Australia to track the Nasdaq-100 index, we believe NDQ ETF is unique in its ability to provide exposure to the technology industry in particular, which is strongly under-represented on the ASX and in other US benchmark indices," he said."
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