Many institutional investors include value-oriented equity strategies in their portfolio to provide protection during declining equity markets. But not all value strategies are created equal, as many found out during the global financial crisis 10 years ago. As well, many investors expected their portfolios to perform better than the broader market, to preserve cash, but this […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System’s real estate arm is investing $3.3 billion to acquire a portfolio of 19 office buildings across Australia. Oxford Properties Group and Investa Property Group, the Australian company that currently owns the properties, will jointly manage the office portfolio. “Oxford invests for the long term in global gateway cities with a […]
At the first Risk Management Conference, 20 years ago, there were many things plan sponsors probably weren’t thinking about. Currency, for example, says Marlene Puffer, president and CEO, CN Investment Division. Before the elimination of the Foreign Property Rule, plans were mostly invested in Canadian bonds and equities. Instead, the chief concern would have been […]
Uncertainty on how U.S. and Chinese policies will affect trade, Italy’s budget standoff with the European Commission, worry over Brexit and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy all imply volatility for the coming year, according to Russell Investment Canada Ltd.’s 2019 market outlook. The firm is remaining neutral on equities and underweight U.S. stock, though it’s maintaining a more […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is lending $150 million to SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc. SSQ Insurance, a large insurance and investment company based in Quebec, is aiming to use the loan to carry out its strategic plan, which focuses on innovation, digital transformation and Canada-wide development. Read: Caisse invests in Quebec insurance company, takes stake […]
Canadian taxpayers are providing $22 billion each year to the country’s public sector pension plans by assuming undisclosed investment risks, according to a new report by public policy think-tank the Fraser Institute. In the report, its author Malcolm Hamilton suggested public pension funds view the income they provide to plan members on retirement as 20 […]
Though financial markets were volatile and bond yields dropped, Canadian defined benefit pension plans benefited from higher asset returns in November, with median solvency standing at 100.6 per cent, according to Aon’s monthly survey. Among the plans surveyed, 48 per cent were more than fully funded, down just 0.2 percentage points from the end of […]
Emerging market equities are expected to show the heftiest returns in 2019, underpinned by a stronger economic background, said William Yun, executive vice-president at Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions, at an event in Toronto on Tuesday. While the asset class is still muted compared to returns 20 years ago, the investment firm is working with the forward-looking outlook that emerging market […]
While many investors expect the U.S. bull market to end in 2019, some institutional investors are planning changes to their allocation strategy or return assumptions, according to a new survey by Natixis Investment Managers. The survey found about two-thirds of institutional investors expect the U.S. bull market to end in 2019, while 70 per cent […]
A coalition of investors is asking North American fossil fuel producers to up their disclosure on water risks. The Shareholder Association for Research and Education is teaming up with the U.S.-based Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility to send a letter to 30 companies requesting they participate in a water questionnaire from the Carbon Disclosure Project, a […]