News Round Up

No rate rise expected this week, Hunter Hall given three stars, Consumer urges caution for Geneva investors, Tower happy with PIMCO ratings. Strategic's rating confirmed.

Tuesday, October 23rd 2007, 6:58AM

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard is unlikely to hike rates on Thursday but nobody should be expecting any dovish words either.

All 12 economists surveyed by Good Returns expect Bollard to hold his official cash rate (OCR) steady at 8.25%. Read full story

Hunter Hall given three stars
Hunter Hall is one of Australian's more successful "ethical" investors, has been given a three star rating by Standard and Poor's for its international equity funds.

Hunter Hall uses and "value" investment style and moved to a multi-portfolio manager approach in 2005.

"Portfolios are constructed using each manager's "best ideas", bringing further diversity to the process. The portfolio's assets are weighted between managers depending on the number of quality stock ideas each identifies," S&P says.

Hunter Hall promotes its funds in New Zealand and is planning roadshow for advisers at the end of this month.

Consumer urges caution for Geneva investors
Investors waiting on repayment from Geneva Finance should be asking Geneva's management some tough questions, Consumer says.

It says the proposed six and a half month moratorium on repaying debenture holders poses a difficult choice for investors.

"It's hard for ordinary investors get to grips with the pros and cons of the proposal and agree with it or elect to call in the receivers," Consumer chief executive Sue Chetwin says.

She says debenture holders voting on the proposal should "looking for strong evidence that Geneva can trade its way out of difficulty."

Tower happy with PIMCO ratings

Tower Investments says the manager used for its international fixed income funds, PIMCO Australia, has received four star or five star S&P ratings.

"Strong showings in S&P fund ratings reaffirm our longstanding confidence in PIMCO as our fund manager of choice for international fixed income-based products offered by TOWER Investments in New Zealand," Tower Investments chief executive Tony Hildyard says.

PIMCO is one of the world's largest fixed income managers, with more than US $700 billion under management. It is currently the largest global fixed interest manager in Australia, with A$22 billion in funds under client mandate.

Strategic Finance has had its B1 credit rating from Axis reconfirmed.

Strategic has had this level of rating for six consecutive years.

Chief executive Kerry Finnigan said the result was a vote of confidence in the stability and future direction of Strategic Finance.

The rating agency said that Strategic Finance is likely to enhance its strength by introducing new product lines and establishing a larger presence in the Australian market. Axis says it is confident that Strategic's experienced board and able management team would ensure strong governance of the business going forward.

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