Thu, 15th Jan 2026

In this week's finance news, Australian super funds have increased their investments into private markets by 34 percent over the last two years, reaching up to $400 billion into private equity, infrastructure, and real estate. Despite the potential for higher returns to boost retirement savings for members, these investments also bring higher risk and reduced liquidity. Meanwhile, HESTA fund reported a landmark $10 billion in investment returns in 2025, representing their successful strategy of sustainable, long-term growth. There is strict enforcement from the Australian Taxation Office on unpaid tax and superannuation contributions resulting in travel bans for defaulters. In property news, despite an ongoing affordability crisis, there's been a 48% increase in first-home buyer guarantees, with average budgets increasing to $637,000.