Nikko AM Investment Summit focuses on financial risk

Monday, 25 March 2019

Media Release

Nikko AM Investment Summit focuses on global and local financial risk

Financial risks and how investors can gain from them are the focus at this week’s Nikko Asset Management Investment Summit.

As part of Summit 2019’s theme, “When is a risk worth taking? The art of balancing risk,” international and local speakers looked at risk factors affecting leading economies and markets here and overseas, at the event in Wellington this morning.

Goldman Sachs AM UK Portfolio Manager Hugh Briscoe gave his firm’s assessment of the risks evolving in global markets, including trade disagreements, as well as the arguments and evidence for and against optimism in the current climate.

Nikko AM NZ Head of Bonds & Currency Fergus McDonald looked at alternative assets that investors might look to now, to protect gains made over the last decade, and why investors may seek to gain exposure over traditional equity and bonds.

Other speakers included British economist Andrew Hunt, and Nikko AM NZ Head of Equities Stuart Williams on how his team responds to specific risks for key stocks like A2 Milk and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

Nikko AM NZ Managing Director George Carter says while risk is generally seen as something to be avoided or managed, in finance and investments the presence of risk is desirable.

"How, when, where and why we accept certain risks, and the consequences of not taking some risks, are all questions that deserve our attention as financial professionals,” Carter says. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to address those questions at Summit 2019 with a strong lineup of speakers who'll reveal the risks they like and those they avoid.”

Carter says Nikko AM’s Investment Summit has been delivering insights to investors since 2013 and is always a popular event. “We took the opportunity this year to work through which aspects of financial risk we like to see in our portfolios and which ones we seek to mitigate in our current environment” he says.

This year’s Summit follows the launch of Nikko AM’s digital investment platform, GoalsGetter, which factors in individual user’s investment risk tolerance. “GoalsGetter means we can now provide digital advice to help Kiwis feel confident in their financial decisions and choose a solution that is most appropriate for them,” Carter concludes.

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