Early in March, BlueChippers attended the inaugural Global Investments Forum in Sydney, managed and hosted by Certitude Global Investments (Certitude)* and PortfolioConstruction Forum. It was the first of three Global Investments Forums in Australia and New Zealand this year.
Global Investments Forum participants were treated to a wide range of views on global investments – in particular, their role in the face of falling cash returns.
They covered areas as diverse as global equities, hedge funds, emerging markets, investment grade credit and private equity. Despite the diverse philosophies and specialisations represented, a number of common themes emerged.
There was universal agreement that, whether one views quantitative easing as a ‘blessing’ or a ‘curse’ (or, more likely, both), its unwinding will be a point of significant risk for which investment managers should be preparing now.
The considered decision by Japan to begin devaluing the yen is another global event for which investment managers were advised to prepare, with likely effects including a flood of Japanese savers’ funds hitting the offshore markets and new and increased competition for Korean and German manufacturing concerns.
Another common theme was the significant turnaround in future US fortunes brought about by its coal seam gas boom. A dramatic reduction in energy prices and the very real prospect of the US becoming an energy exporter, rather than an importer, will have wide and deep investment impacts.
The bottom line for Aussie investors at the Global Investment Forum? For value and growth, go global.
*For full disclosure: Certitude Global Investments is a BlueChip client