ABN Amro analysis impresses Assirt

ABN Amro’ssystems of research and analysis give the fund manager an edge over many of its competitors, the Assirt research group has claimed.

Assirt released a review on ABN AMRO which rated the fund manager as a predominantly strong player in its business management, Australian share management, international shares management and international shares socially responsible investment (SRI) management capabilities. Only the group’s operating capacity was rated weaker by the research house, with a rating of competent.

Assirt investment analyst Jody Fitzgerald says the thing that stands out about ABN Amro is its capacity to research the markets it invests in.

“At ABN, we see a real focus on industry where the industries are broken down into sectors further, as they attempt to find out what is fundamentally driving the businesses,” she says.

“We believe this gives them an advantage over their competitors.”

Assirt rated four of ABN Amro’s funds — the domestic Australian equities fund, international fund, SRI fund and European fund. All were given a four star rating.

However Fitzgerald says ABN Amro’s relative small size and lack of history in the Australian market could be a possible drawback.

“Assirt would like to see more support staff [at ABN Amro],” she says.

But she adds that as a fund manager which decided to enter the market with growth funds at a volatile time, technically speaking it should be experiencing its toughest time. The fact that it appears to be weathering the external forces well is a credit to the ABN Amro team, Fitzgerald says.