Welcome to issue 15 of Investment Intel: Australia where we have curated the latest news and insights on the Australian market for Asia-based investment managers.

If you have any queries about our newsletter or would like information about APAC Financial Services, please contact me.

Best wishes,

David Thomas
APAC Financial Services
Email: davidthomas@apacfinancialservices.com

Current News and Insights

Foreign investors are optimistic about Australia with global research finding there was a 39% increase in optimism this year, marking a 10% rise from the previous year and placing Australia among the leaders alongside Canada and the UK in the main index of optimism rankings. Read more here or here.

Australia’s third largest super fund, Rest, has signed on as a cornerstone investor in Fidelity International’s Fidelity Real Estate Logistics Climate Impact Fund (the LOGICs fund). The investment will bring Rest closer to its target of achieving a one per cent allocation to impact investments across its total portfolio by 2026. Read more here.

Chinese investment in Australia plummeted to $1.34 billion in 2023 according to a new report, marking a 36% decline from the previous year and the second-lowest annual figure since 2006. The report found that China’s global outbound investment had shifted to Belt and Road initiative countries. Further information can be found here.

The consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has been given M&A oversight powers as part of reforms announced this week that will require all merger proposals to obtain approval from the ACCC before proceeding. The new rules are set to take effect from 1 January 2026. More detail can be found here.

Qantas Super has appointed fintech company, Ortec Finance, as its investment performance partner in a move designed to build on the fund manager’s performance and attribution capabilities. More information can be found here.