New horizon for NZ investment industry
New Zealand’s asset management and retirement savings industry has managed to ease concerns over regulations and adapted to new, stricter legislation and is now looking ahead to new horizons, according to a survey by BNP Paribas Securities Services.
The 2017 BNP Paribas/ Investment News ‘New Zealand Investment and Operations Outlook Report’, which surveyed more than 100 market participants, found that the new focus areas were diversification into offshore assets, including emerging markets and infrastructure, embracing new technology and moving up the environmental, social and governance (ESG) curve.
The other important themes across the industry that emerged from this year’s data were also robo-revolution, with almost three-quarters of those surveyed saying they were gearing up for the digital revolution, and a greater operational focus for the year ahead.
BNP Paribas Securities Services’ managing director for New Zealand, Doug Cameron, said: “The survey, which follows on from the inaugural 2016 poll, showed the industry has changed considerably over the previous 12 months – particularly with its rapid response to the growing demand for socially responsible investing (SRI) policies.
“Last year just under 20 per cent of respondents were looking at increasing their efforts in SRI. But in 2017 the survey found about 70 per cent ticked “yes” to the same question.
He said the study had also found that increasing awareness of the potential for ‘fintech’ disruption in the local market, with about 75 per cent of the industry either implementing strategies or putting the issue high on their agenda.
“We intend to monitor these trends with our 2018 survey when, for example, robo-advice providers may be operating in New Zealand,” Cameron said.
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