Blockchain to bring clarity, liquidity: academic
Blockchain technology will radically transform the economy around us and the Australian Securities Exchange’s switch to it is just the tip of the iceberg, academic Chris Berg says. Blockchain – the technology that makes bitcoin possible – has “a large number of applications across the economy for much more than things like cryptocurrencies”, he says. Berg is a senior research fellow at the RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub, an adjunct fellow with the Institute of Public Affairs, and an academic fellow with the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance. He says blockchain offers almost limitless possibilities, in contrast to Bitcoin, which he argues is less of a sure thing for the future. “I’m obviously […]
Praemium doubles profit, SMA hits $5.6bn
Australian and UK domiciled SMA provider Praemium has posted a net profit after tax of $1.4 million, up 106 per cent on 2016-17 figure of $688,000. The company’s core service, namely SMA administration, has grown well in the past year. Praemium’s Australian SMA is up 45 per cent to $5.61 billion, and the international SMA is up 20 per cent to $2.68 billion. Praemium has also added 23 new fund managers and a further 88 model portfolios, for a total of 72 managers and 336 managed models. The company recorded gross asset inflows of $3 billion, an increase of 50 per cent on the previous financial year. Overall funds under […]
After CBA scandal, Australia’s regtech sector is ready for take-off
The local regtech scene is ready for take-off. There were two indications last week that regulatory technology’s engines are revving up. One was the corporate regulator securing an extra $6 million in funding from the federal government to market Australia as a global centre of regtech excellence. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman James Shipton is on board with the potential for new technology to help regulated entities meet their complex legal obligations. The second was the filing of a prospectus by a promising Sydney-based regtech start-up known as Identitii. Based in a terrace house in Potts Point, Identitii plans to list on the ASX in September, with the […]
Meet the brains behind Raiz Invest research and insights
Raiz Invest Limited, the mobile-first micro investing platform, improving financial confidence for over 164,000 Australians, is strategically using research and insights to continuously garner understanding and awareness of their customer needs, with the help of Dr. Jake An, Raiz Invest Research Phd and in conjunction with major Sydney Universities. Dr. Jake An applies his PhD theories to Raiz customers to improve the user experience and is now the brains behind the continuing research program of Raiz. His role is to merge his two passions, academia and research applying them to real world of financial literacy and behaviour. Working with Raiz since 2016, Jake identifies business problems and works directly with […]
Can Afterpay’s magic run continue?
As Elon Musk and Tesla have shown us, when dizzy valuations and high short interest collide, the results can be spectacular. If the Australian stock market has a battleground stock to rival Tesla it is the buy now, pay later juggernaut Afterpay, which has doubled to a market capitalisation of over $3 billion in just six weeks. In that time, the shorts have been decimated as Afterpay successfully kicked off its US adventure. As it stands, Afterpay which closed on Friday at $14.57 is now valued at 100 times forward earnings and at 50 times based on fiscal 2020 earnings forecasts. So is the run done? Not even close, if […]
UNSW team launching the ‘Spotify of the fintech world’
Investors daunted by the stockmarket will soon be able to choose investment options in the same way as songlists, says a UNSW team of entrepreneurs. It could be music to many young investors’ ears to hear that two UNSW students have co-founded ‘the Spotify of the fintech world’ – making the stock market accessible to aspiring investors.’ Recent UNSW graduate Hayden Smith (B. Computer Science) and current final year student Kurt Walkom, along with Nick Nicolaides, are the brains behind Pearler Investments. The investing platform is essentially an app that suggests investment opportunities in ready-made portfolios, in the same way that Spotify playlists suggest music. The trio at the company […]
ETFs could be the ticket to portfolio diversification
One of the major advantages of an exchange traded fund is the ability for investors to gain instant diversified exposure, writes State Street Global Advisors’ Meaghan Victor. With one trade, ETFs can provide investors with the easiest way to achieve instant access to a broad base of companies and stock markets across different industries and even countries. The hunt for diversification Without a doubt, diversification has been a driving force behind the massive adoption of ETFs both in Australia and abroad. In fact, it could be said that in the age of the ETF, well-informed investors are learning what institutional investors have known all along. Asset allocation, not security selecting, […]
Xplora invests US$1m into BLOCKLOAN
Xplora Capital has announced the purchase of USD $1 million (AUD $1.35 million) worth of tokens from BLOCKLOAN – a new blockchain peer-to-peer lending marketplace. Blockchain and crypto are triggering a societal and economic shift before our eyes. Financial institutions are failing to address the market needs. It’s time for a new solution to old problems. Mark Finch, Managing Director of Xplora Capital stated, “As an early investor into BLOCKLOAN and working in the Financial Services space for 20 years we believe in Co Founder’s Michael and Bill’s vision and roadmap for providing the ability for people to access credit on a global scale and better rates than the banks. […]
