Last week's deadline for - and subsequent introduction of - the tit for tat trade tariffs on $34 billion of goods between the US and China seem to have come and gone without the end of the economic world as we've come to know it, but to be fair it is probably much too early to tell how this will play out. It may only be 0.1% of their respective GDP's, but the fact that the so-called "Chimerica Trade" is estimated to approach 40% of the global total puts it into perspective.
Meanwhile The Donald has moved on to Europe, using his "stable genius" negotiation approach to resolve NATO's funding future, before hopping across the English Channel to give some (we imagine unwelcomed) advice to Theresa May, while adding that he "gets along with her nicely" and thinks she's "a nice person".
At this point in time we haven't heard her response - on or off the record - and we're also not sure if Donald has yet worked out why he feels unwelcome in the "London he used to love".
Meanwhile back at home the Hayne Royal Commission has advised it will shortly be turning its attention to superannuation funds which must fill the 30 or so lucky directors due to take the stand come August 6th with trepidation. Hayne will be looking at such uncomfortable aspects as "acting in the best interest of members, not unions, employer groups or shareholders", and has requested they provide papers of board meetings and sub-committees stretching back five years.
Leading up to this, Commissioner Hayne will no doubt be getting to know the Productivity Commission's 570 page report on the $2.6 trillion superannuation sector, which itself was pretty scathing, but with his added powers and the glare of the lights on the witness box, there should be more headlines in store.
Not, however, too many surprises! The "for profit" sector funds consistently underperform, and lest the "industry funds" think they're going to be getting off lightly, there will no doubt be all sorts of uncomfortable questions around cosy deals with unions, a lack of appropriate knowledge and expertise at board level, not to mention their ongoing refusal to appoint independent directors. We wonder why?
It is inconvenient timing therefore that an unfair dismissal case against Australian Super, alleging conflicts of interest and cosy related-party deals, is currently making the news. Or the report we saw recently that estimated that with lower fees the $2.6 trillion currently in super would be worth closer to $3.4 trillion.
No wonder the SMSF sector is so popular, even if some funds with lower balances are uneconomic. At least their trustees get to make their own decisions, and pay for their own mistakes.
