Hedge Funds in Superannuation Portfolios: Are the Returns Worth the Risks? In recent years superannuation funds have delivered negative returns to members due to poorly performing stockmarkets. In striving to achieve higher rates of return, superannuation trustees have commenced allocating retirement savings to a new type of investment opportunity, termed hedge funds. There is a paucity of research about this new type of investment, particularly relating to the non-linear nature of hedge funds ....Hedge Funds in Superannuation Portfolios: Are the Returns Worth the Risks? In recent years superannuation funds have delivered negative returns to members due to poorly performing stockmarkets. In striving to achieve higher rates of return, superannuation trustees have commenced allocating retirement savings to a new type of investment opportunity, termed hedge funds. There is a paucity of research about this new type of investment, particularly relating to the non-linear nature of hedge funds returns. This study will investigate the risk and return trade-off of including hedge funds in superannuation portfolios and provide trustees with empirical tools to determine the optimal allocation to hedge funds.Read moreRead less
An econometric investigation of technical analysis as a portfolio selection strategy in Australia. This project will provide an in-depth analysis of the returns of portfolios of Australian equities formed by using technical trading rules. The research will determine whether or not any abnormal returns earned by these means are attributable to firm-specific or market-wide factors. This project represents the first attempt to interpret technical analysis in a portfolio framework and will provide v ....An econometric investigation of technical analysis as a portfolio selection strategy in Australia. This project will provide an in-depth analysis of the returns of portfolios of Australian equities formed by using technical trading rules. The research will determine whether or not any abnormal returns earned by these means are attributable to firm-specific or market-wide factors. This project represents the first attempt to interpret technical analysis in a portfolio framework and will provide valuable information on the informational efficiency of Australian capital markets. As there is currently no single definitive study of technical analysis in Australia, this project will fill a significant void in the current academic literature and provide evidence of great practical relevance to Australian investment practitioners.Read moreRead less
The Management of Asymmetric Risk in a Modern Investment Portfolio. Due to compulsory superannuation legislation, the future lifestyle of all Australians is dependent upon the successful management of investment funds. A large component of funds management is risk management. This project will generate practical management tools to enable portfolio managers to significantly enhance their risk-management strategies. A direct link between risk management and performance drives funds managers to ....The Management of Asymmetric Risk in a Modern Investment Portfolio. Due to compulsory superannuation legislation, the future lifestyle of all Australians is dependent upon the successful management of investment funds. A large component of funds management is risk management. This project will generate practical management tools to enable portfolio managers to significantly enhance their risk-management strategies. A direct link between risk management and performance drives funds managers to carefully manage their risk exposure. Any developments that reduce the risk of a portfolio will ultimately enhance portfolio returns. Higher returns on superannuation investments will result in an improved future standard of living for all Australians.Read moreRead less
The value of financial planning advice - process and outcome effects on consumer well-being. Knowledge of how financial advice contributes to consumer well-being is vital as industry and policy-makers strive to professionalise financial planning and enhance the quality of advice. Outcomes of this research project will inform policy debate and industry practices for improving the value of financial planning advice to consumers and their well-being.
Transforming Banking Service Delivery Through Connected Communities. This project aims to develop a deeper understanding of the potential that the increased connectedness between customers has for organisations in the services sector. The massive uptake of social technologies demonstrates the high demand for connectedness. However, to date corporations and their customers have insufficient means to utilise such communities. Using the banking sector as an example, the project's outcomes intend to ....Transforming Banking Service Delivery Through Connected Communities. This project aims to develop a deeper understanding of the potential that the increased connectedness between customers has for organisations in the services sector. The massive uptake of social technologies demonstrates the high demand for connectedness. However, to date corporations and their customers have insufficient means to utilise such communities. Using the banking sector as an example, the project's outcomes intend to show how digital communities can improve the delivery of services and facilitate new co-delivery and brokerage models.Read moreRead less
Financial decision making in late adulthood. The project aims to examine links between cognitive changes and financial decision-making in late adulthood and also to assess the preparedness of the elderly to combat financial risks due to age-related cognitive decline. Further, it intends to examine how age, education, wealth, health, and other environmental factors influence transfer of financial decision-making responsibilities to spouses or others. It is expected that the research will provide ....Financial decision making in late adulthood. The project aims to examine links between cognitive changes and financial decision-making in late adulthood and also to assess the preparedness of the elderly to combat financial risks due to age-related cognitive decline. Further, it intends to examine how age, education, wealth, health, and other environmental factors influence transfer of financial decision-making responsibilities to spouses or others. It is expected that the research will provide a greater understanding of how cognitive functioning and other factors affect older adults’ financial capacity and willingness to delegate decision-making responsibilities. This understanding could be used to inform policy initiatives to protect elderly individuals and their family members from the risk of financial mismanagement.Read moreRead less
Virtual transport networks. This project will develop specialised time-dependent networks for use in algorithmic software testing and development, focussing on public transportation networks, but applicable elsewhere. The virtual transport networks developed in this project will significantly reduce the cost of producing software products that perform network searches.
An integrated mathematical approach to synchronise and optimise hospital operations. This project aims to develop an integrated mathematical approach to synchronise and optimise patient scheduling systems of different departments to ensure that the hospital’s assets and related resources are used efficiently. The project’s aim is to investigate patient flow, process delay, and the interaction and inter-dependence of departments within the hospital to reduce access block (bottleneck) and subseque ....An integrated mathematical approach to synchronise and optimise hospital operations. This project aims to develop an integrated mathematical approach to synchronise and optimise patient scheduling systems of different departments to ensure that the hospital’s assets and related resources are used efficiently. The project’s aim is to investigate patient flow, process delay, and the interaction and inter-dependence of departments within the hospital to reduce access block (bottleneck) and subsequent overcrowding. This project aims to smooth the running of the hospital, improve the efficiency of patient throughput, reduce waiting times, and revolutionise hospital planning and scheduling.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Rail Network Infrastructure Capacity under Dynamic Train Planning. Recent changes in railway operating environments have caused significant operational and management problems in Australia. This research will lead to improvements of railway's key managerial functions, namely: network capacity planning; rollingstock planning; train scheduling; and maintenance planning. The major outcome of the research will be to develop an optimisation model to significantly improve the operati ....Optimisation of Rail Network Infrastructure Capacity under Dynamic Train Planning. Recent changes in railway operating environments have caused significant operational and management problems in Australia. This research will lead to improvements of railway's key managerial functions, namely: network capacity planning; rollingstock planning; train scheduling; and maintenance planning. The major outcome of the research will be to develop an optimisation model to significantly improve the operating efficiency and assets productivity of Australia's rail system. The novelty of the research is that it will be undertaken using innovations based on modern job shop scheduling and sequencing optimisation techniques as the complexity of the problem makes it impossible to solve by classic optimisation techniques.Read moreRead less
Synchromodal container logistics for Australia. Synchromodal container logistics for Australia. This project aims to develop advanced mathematical optimization models and algorithms to create multi-modal logistics approaches for container movements in and out of Australia’s busy ports. The increasingly congested capital cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne need to find new ways of moving an increasing volume of containerized freight. Moving from trucks to rail is expected to reduce pollution ....Synchromodal container logistics for Australia. Synchromodal container logistics for Australia. This project aims to develop advanced mathematical optimization models and algorithms to create multi-modal logistics approaches for container movements in and out of Australia’s busy ports. The increasingly congested capital cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne need to find new ways of moving an increasing volume of containerized freight. Moving from trucks to rail is expected to reduce pollution and road congestion, but is only possible if highly efficient modes of operation can be developed. Research into system design and operational scheduling is expected to achieve the required efficiency for multi-modal logistics that will reduce air pollution and road congestion.Read moreRead less