NEWS
0.31% for the month of May outperforming the cash benchmark of 0.17%.
22 Jun 2015 - Aurora Fortitude Absolute Return Fund
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | The Fund aims to produce positive returns irrespective of the direction of the share market. For each investment the manager considers the risk, the timeline of that risk occurring and then the potential return. Low transaction costs and liquidity are other important factors in the success and implementation of the strategies. |
| Manager Comments | In May, all strategies except Long/Short and Convergence strategies, contributed positively to the performance. The Options Strategy was the best contributor at 0.18%. The banks (NAB.ASX, ANZ.ASX, WBC.ASX and CBA.ASX) all provided good returns as volatility increased significantly at the beginning of the month. Click below to read the lastest monthly commentary and market outlook. |
| More Information |
19 Jun 2015 - Hedge Clippings
Greece moves from close to the edge, to on the edge.
Four or maybe five years ago (Hedge Clippings loses track of time as the years roll by) at the GAIM hedge fund conference in Monaco, a show of hands was held to see how many of the 400 or so assembled attendees thought Greece would survive as part of the EU. To the surprise of some, myself included, less than half of the audience were positive about the eventual outcome.
Had further questions been asked about how soon such an exit might occur fewer might have picked 2015, but now much wrangling has passed it appears that Greece is literally teetering on the edge of the EU cliff, and that a Grexit is more than just a 55/45 possibility. It is doubtful that a minor economy such as Greece's will have too much of a direct impact on Australia, but the indirect effects could be considerable. To be honest our expertise in this area is limited, so the opinion of those with greater knowledge is likely to be much more worthwhile.
Morphic Asset Management's recent blog (27th May) might be slightly more on the money, even if written a month or so ago. Their Greek expert, Irene Kardasis belives that an agreement will be reached sooner or later, and everyone will have to compromise. Meanwhile Morphic's risk averse CIO, Jack Lowenstein believes that the Europeans have already written Greece off, and that any deal, if there is one, will be last minute, but probably not long lasting.
He's right about it being last minute, and will probably be right about it not lasting long as well. You can find Morphic's full comments here.
Specific results received this week include the following PERFORMANCE UPDATES:
Allard Investment Fund net of all fees, increased 1.0% during the month of May 2015.
The Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund rose 0.41% in May, to bring the Fund's annual performance since inception to 13.01% compared to the ASX200 Accumulation benchmark's 5.60%.
Morphic Global Opportunities Fund rose 3.79% in May as its benchmark (MSCI AC World Total Return in Australian Dollars) rose 2.91%, resulting inoutperformance of 0.88%.
The Optimal Australia Absolute Trust reported a net positive return in May of 2.04%, compared to the ASX200 Accumulation Index of 0.40%.
The Paragon Fund returned 2.40% versus the ASX 200 Accumulation's 0.40%, for the month of May 2015. The Fund's annual return since inception has been 21.66% p.a. versus the Index's 10.39% p.a.
Cor Capital Fund returned 1.23% bringing the 12-month return to 8.04%, exceeding the RBA Cash Rate Benchmark by 5.6%.
FUND REVIEWS released this week: Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund; Monash Absolute Investment Fund
20 - 21 August 2015 -The 2nd Superannuation Fund Investment Operations Forum 2015 is a two day forum providing invaluable technological, regulatory compliant and best practice insights into improving back and middle office efficiency to drive member loyalty, bottom line profitability and a competitive edge
26 - 28 August 2015 -The 15th Annual Wraps, Platforms & Masterfunds Conference will provide solutions for succeeding in a distribution world of endless possibilities, showcasing strategies to help business achieve the biggest bite of market share, use innovation to overcome problems and support opportunities. Australian Fund Monitors is pleased to offer a discount of $300 to all investors and advisors using coupon code promoFM on registration.
15 September 2015 -The AIMA Australia Hedge Fund Forum 2015 is the annual non-profit hedge fund conference organised by the industry for the industry.
We are going to avoid any political comments this week, inspite of there being much to comment on: Bill Shorten and the AWU; US Presidential candidates Donald Trump and JEB Bush; Tony Abbott's disdain for clean energy etc. We are probably spoilt for choice, particulary after the Pope's comments on climate change.
Instead this week's "And Now for Something Completely Different" is altogether more hopeful and uplifting.
And finallybest wishes for a happy and healthy week-end ahead,
Chris
CEO, AUSTRALIAN FUND MONITORS
Connect with me on LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
|
Registration to AFM is free and provides general information and performance data on Absolute Return, Hedge Funds and Alternative Investments. |
Fund Managers and paid Subscribers have access to details on Individual Managers and Funds, with historical results, key performance indicators, latest news and performance reports. |
Prism Select provides self-directed investors and their advisors with factual information, performance data and opportunity to apply for funds online usingOLIVIA123. |
Tune into Sky Business on Foxtel every week on Monday at 2:15pm for AFM's weekly comment. |
Australian Fund Monitors are helping to raise awareness to support research into prevention and cure for cerebral palsy. For more information visit www.cpresearch.org.au or contact me by email.
19 Jun 2015 - Cor Capital Fund
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | The Cor Capital Fund is a Multi- Asset Fund which combines a pre-determined strategic asset allocation with active but systemised rebalancing to generate returns and manage volatility whilst maintaining transparency and liquidity. The Fund strategy is not reliant on accurate market predictions, forecasts or timing for success. Returns are generated in a number of ways; 1) by maintaining sufficiently large positions in a diverse group of asset classes, 2) via the 'volatility harvesting' consequences of active rebalancing, and 3) from the offsetting behaviour of certain asset classes under specific conditions. The combined portfolio is expected to exhibit relatively low volatility and low turnover. In the interests of avoiding complexity, maintaining liquidity, and minimising reliance on third parties, the Fund strategy does not employ gearing, derivatives or short-selling. |
| Manager Comments | The equities (+2.0%) and gold (+3.0%) components of the portfolio were the major performance contributors for May. The ASX200 Accum Index was up only 0.40% with the difference resulting from the Fund's less concentrated equity portfolio. |
| More Information |
18 Jun 2015 - Optimal Australia Absolute Trust
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | The Fund's bias is likely to be net long under normal market conditions, with the core strategy being to construct a portfolio of listed equity securities priced at levels that do not adequately reflect their underlying value. The Fund will seek to boost returns and limit potential market downside by selective short selling of individual stocks which are priced at levels that are viewed as materially above their underlying value. The Fund will also use certain trading strategies both within its core portfolio (through rebalancing stock weights and overall market exposure in response to price movements) and in certain other situations (typically of a shorter-duration and/or opportunistic nature) with the objective of further increasing returns. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund had a gross exposure of 99.0% and net exposure of 7.2%. The stock selection during the month was solid, with positive attribution on both the Fund's long (+2.0%) and short (+0.3%) positions. The short position in the banks did its work, and a number of the longs in materials also did well, including ALS, Alumina, Sims Group, and PanAust. Click below to read the latest Fund Manager's commentary on the Fund and market outlook. |
| More Information |
18 Jun 2015 - The Paragon Fund
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | Paragon believes that markets are not always efficient, exhibiting a common tendency to price securities well outside of their intrinsic value over the medium term. This market characteristic provides the opportunity for Paragon, an active manager with a flexible mandate, to generate superior investment returns over the longer term. Paragon believes that it is critical to understand both the companies and the industries in which they operate, in order to fully comprehend each investment opportunity. Accordingly, a fundamental approach to company research is taken. Assessing the potential downside is also paramount in framing the risk/reward trade-off for potential investments. |
| Manager Comments | Key drivers of the Paragon Fund's performance for May included solid returns from Macquarie, Henderson Group, Orocobre, Nanosonics and Reward Minerals. Short positions in REA Group and 1-Page also contributed. At the end of the month the fund had 33 long positions and 14 short positions Click below to read the latest Fund Manager's commentary. |
| More Information |
17 Jun 2015 - Fund Review: Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund May 2015
BENNELONG LONG SHORT EQUITY FUND
Attached is our most recently updated Fund Review on the Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund.
- The Fund is a research driven, market and sector neutral, "pairs" trading strategy investing primarily in large cap stocks from the ASX/S&P100 Index, with over twelve year track record and annualised returns of 17.05%.
- The consistent returns across the investment history indicates the Fund's ability to provide positive returns in volatile and negative markets and significantly outperform the broader market. The Fund's Sharpe Ratio and Sortino Ratio are 1.03 (Index 0.36) and 1.71 (Index 0.40) respectively.
outperformance of 0.88%.
17 Jun 2015 - Morphic Global Opportunities Fund
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | |
| Manager Comments | The biggest contribution to performance was from the exposure to the US health service sector, represented by HCA Holdings and Anthem. The second biggest winner came from the US bank exposure as banks there rallied on the back of a steeper yield curve, improving their margins. The main detractors from the month's performance was mainly due to the pullback in the Chinese market and stocks relating to that position. The Fund has over 50.2% of their equity exposure in North American and 33.0% in the Financial Sector. The Fund closed May fully invested, with the continuing overweight to China, along with lesser overweights to India and Japan, funded from underweight positions in the US and Europe and the rest of the emerging markets. Click below to read the Fund Manager's monthly report and their June outlook of the market. |
| More Information |
0.41% in May, to bring the Fund's annual performance since inception to 13.01% compared to the ASX200 Accumulation benchmark's 5.60%.
16 Jun 2015 - Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | The Fund's discretionary investment strategy commences with a macro view of the economy and direction to establish the portfolio's desired market exposure. Following this detailed sector and company research is gathered from knowledge of the individual stocks in the Fund's universe, with widespread use of broker research. Company visits, presentations and discussions with management at CEO and CFO level are used wherever possible to assess management quality across a range of criteria. Detailed analysis of company valuations using financial statements and forecasts, particularly focusing on free cash flow, is conducted. Technical analysis is used to validate the Manager's fundamental research and valuations and to manage market timing. A significant portion of the Fund's overall performance can be attributed to the attention and importance given to the macro economic outlook and the ability and willingness to adjust the Fund's market risk. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund's net equity market exposure, including derivatives increased to 41.2% (74.3% long and 33.1% short). Long positions in James Hardie, Amcorand Sirius were the largest positive contributors. A long position in Resmed and a short position in Share Price Index Futures (hedging long exposures) were the largest detractors. Click below to read the May 2015 Fund Report. |
| More Information |
16 Jun 2015 - Fund Review: Monash Absolute Investment Fund May 2015
MONASH ABSOLUTE INVESTMENT FUND
- The Fund is a research driven, active equity long/short strategy investing in listed ASX companies.
- The Fund seeks to identify opportunities in the share market to make positive returns (long and short) irrespective of market conditions. It is style agnostic, as compelling investment opportunities exist across all investment styles from time to time. The Fund places a high priority on capital preservation, and has an absolute return focus in accepting market risk.
Monash Absolute Investment Fund Review May 2015 (pdf format)
15 Jun 2015 - Allard Investment Fund
| Report Date | |
| Manager | |
| Fund Name | |
| Strategy | |
| Latest Return Date | |
| Latest Return | |
| Latest 6 Months | |
| Latest 12 Months | |
| Latest 24 Months | |
| Annualised Since Inception | |
| Inception Date | |
| FUM (millions) | |
| Fund Overview | |
| Manager Comments | The Fund portfolio was invested 75.5% in equities and 24.5% in cash and fixed income. There has been little change since the prior month, in terms of the industry and geographic breakdown of the portfolio. The Fund continues to be most exposed to Financial Services at 17.30%, Conglomerates at 10.80% and Telco's at 10.70%. The geographic breakdown was Hong Kong / China at 43.00%, Singapore 10.80% and Korea 9.70%. The top 5 holdings had 40.10% concentration of the portfolio and 17.20% in the next 5 holdings. Click below to review the latest Fund Manager's Report. |
| More Information |
