Legg Mason strategy on Netwealth


Legg Mason’s liquid alternatives strategy, the Western Asset Macro Opportunities Bond Fund, has been added to the Netwealth superannuation and investment platform.
Legg Mason said its strategy had been added to Netwealth following a strong demand from financial advisers and their clients.
Country head Legg Mason Australia and New Zealand, Andy Sowerby, said: “We are delighted that growing client interest has led to the Legg Mason Western Asset Macro Opportunities Bond Fund now being added to the Netwealth superannuation and investment platform”.
“This is the fastest growing strategy in the Legg Mason fixed income suite of products globally, with total assets recently surpassing A$13 billion.”
Western Asset developed an aggressive, unconstrained fixed income strategy – Macro Opportunities – in 2012 to offer investors the opportunity to generate returns in a slow growth, low-rate environment. The strategy aimed to be opportunistic and defensive, yet offer an attractive risk/reward profile.
The strategy had an average annualised return, gross of fees, of 10.9 per cent with an ex-post volatility of 6.1 per cent, according to a recent Western Asset client update.
The bond fund has a ‘recommended’ rating from Zenith Partners.
Western Asset Management manages US$432.7 billion in funds as at 31 March, 2017.
Recommended for you
Infrastructure assets are well-positioned to hedge against global uncertainty and can enhance the diversification of traditional portfolios with their evergreen characteristics, an investment chief believes.
Volatility in US markets means currency is becoming a critical decision factor in Australian investors’ ETF selection this year.
Clime Investment Management is overhauling the selection process for its APLs, with managing director Michael Baragwanath describing the threat of a product failure affecting clients as “pure nightmare fuel”.
Global X will expand its ETF range of exchange-traded funds next month with a low-cost Australian equity product as it chases ambitions of becoming a top issuer of ETFs in Australia.