Alternative trading platform Chi-X Australia has several plans in the pipeline specifically targeted at the SMSF sector, including warrants and indices to create exchange-traded funds (ETF).

BT Financial Group is planning to grow its share of the SMSF market by including a full-service SMSF facility on its Panorama platform, to be launched in November.

SMSF specialist financial planning firm Dixon Advisory has paid two Australian Securities and Investments Commission infringement notices totalling $10,200.

Exchange-traded bonds (XTB) have now given retail investors an avenue to access the corporate bond market following their launch on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) recently.

Perennial Value Management has broadened access to its Wealth Defender Equities offering, aimed at providing additional self-directed investor and in particular SMSF member appeal for the product via a listed investment company structure.

The outlook of SMSF trustees should be increasingly positive as a result of the government’s declaration of support for the key principles of superannuation and increased ATO and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) sector surveillance, according to the SMSF Association.

The industry and major political parties needed to take a common-ground approach to dealing with the many challenges facing the superannuation sector, especially complex SMSF issues, the opposition financial services and superannuation spokesman Bernie Ripoll has said.