A thick fog is clouding institutional investors’ efforts to gain clarity on the global market outlook, but certain key themes are peeking through, according to Manulife Investment Management’s mid-year report. Geopolitical unrest continues to be a cause for concern, the report noted. The escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and China could point to a […]
While trade risk continues to plague global economies, India and China are expected to be major emerging market growth drivers, according to State Street Global Advisors’ mid-year global outlook report. If trade relations between the the U.S. and China improve, it could lead to a recovery in emerging markets overall, the report said. Both sides […]
While carbon concerns have been dominating conversations among institutional investors looking to mitigate environmental risk, the issue of water usage should be higher on their list, according to a paper by Russell Investments Group. “Overall, we have concluded that the current water-related investment tools available are insufficient and inhibit investors from converting insights into meaningful […]
As certain major technology firms are struggling, a sub-sector of the industry is on the rise. “Cyber security companies are producing and providing essential services,” says Raj Lala, president and chief executive officer of Evolve ETFs. “They’re not producing a smartphone or a social media application, so they’re very different from the FAANG stocks out […]
With political risk a constant in emerging markets, a quiet year for institutional investors playing in the space doesn’t really exist. “The noise can be triggered by geopolitical shifts, by social tensions or elections,” said Graham Stock emerging market senior sovereign strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, a division of RBC Global Asset Management, during a webinar on […]
In Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, pension funds are increasing their exposure to equities at the expense of fixed income, according to a new report by Mercer. In aggregate, over the five-year measurement period, average allocations to equities for the growth markets covered by the report rose eight percentage points to 40 per […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is partnering with private equity firm Australis Partners and the International Finance Corp., a part of the World Bank Group, to acquire 50 per cent stakes in Colombia-based Alianza Fiduciaria and Alianza Valores. Both firms are owned by Advent International, a British private equity firm. Alianza Fiduciaria is a […]
Almost a third of General Motors Inc. investors with nearly $2 trillion in total assets under management voted in favour of a shareholder resolution last week requesting the car manufacturer disclose its lobbying practices around vehicle emission standards. The vote, led by Canadian responsible investment firm NEI Investments and New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, took […]
The Public Sector Pension Investment Board reported a net return of 7.1 per cent at the end of its last fiscal year, ending March 31, 2019. The fund increased its overall assets under management by 9.7 per cent, jumping from $153.1 billion to $168 billion, including the $3.7 billion the fund received in net contributions. […]
While taking an active approach to investment management is paying off for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board’s actively managed returns are similar to what they would be if it had taken a passive approach, according to a new report by the parliamentary budget officer. The PBO prepared the […]