The market value of Canadian trusteed pension fund assets decreased by 1.3 per cent in Q4 2018 compared to the previous quarter, landing at $1.87 trillion. Yet, on a year-over-year basis, the market value of assets rose by 1.6 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. The strongest area of growth was mortgage […]
Last spring, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that trade wars are easy to win. Last Friday, however, he tweeted the U.S. and China have really been in a trade war for the past three decades. Either way, tensions don’t seem about to diminish any time soon. So what do the latest skirmishes mean for institutional […]
Though data has been a buzzword in the investment world for years, new and unique types of data have the potential to add value to both quantitative and fundamental investment models, according to a new report by Greenwich Associates. Looking at less traditional, or alternative, forms of data is becoming more interesting to active asset managers struggling to beat […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is acquiring a US$1.3 billion stake in LifeArc’s royalty interests on worldwide sales of immunotherapy drug Keytruda through its European credit group. The drug, which is intended to help the body fight certain forms of cancer, was developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and has been approved in 85 countries. […]
Fiera Capital Corp. is acquiring Foresters Life Insurance Co.’s asset management business in an effort to beef up its offering for institutional clients, according to Jean-Philippe Lemay, Fiera’s president and chief operating officer. Montreal-based Fiera will buy Foresters Asset Management Inc., Foresters’ Toronto-based investment management subsidiary that’s focused on institutional and insurance liability-driven investment. The terms […]
The Canada Pension Plan fund ended its fiscal year on March 31, 2019, with net assets of $392 billion, compared to $356.1 billion at the end of fiscal year 2018. The $35.9 billion increase was made up of $32 billion in net income and $3.9 billion in net CPP contributions. Overall, the fund’s return for the year […]
While defined benefit plans are traditionally known for their paternalism, defined contribution pensions represent the next generation. Learning from their parents’ years of investment experience, DC plans are catching up, but hurdles still exist in the quest to invest like DB plans. The liquidity question As more DC plan sponsors consider adding illiquid alternatives to […]
As factor and multi-factor investing become more commonly understood investment styles, different strategies can help mitigate specific risks in choppier markets. “Nobody wants to hear about risk until it’s too late,” said Carlos Phillips, vice-president and director at TD Asset Management Inc., at an event hosted by the firm in Toronto on Tuesday. A significant […]
With global equities rebounding after a volatile end to 2018, Canadian defined benefit pension plans posted positive returns in the first quarter of 2019, according to new data by Northern Trust Corp. The Northern Trust Canada Universe, which tracks the performance of Canadian institutional investment plans using the firm’s asset servicing offerings, found Canadian plans posted a median […]
After starting to manage funds for its first two clients, the Ontario Pension Board and the province’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario has released its 2018 annual report outlining its progress. Though the investment results of its activities will be reported independently by its clients, the report delineated the specifics of […]