In the face of increasing risk, large asset owners are turning to private market allocations, according to a new report by Mercer. The report, which surveyed asset owners representing more than US$2 trillion in assets collectively, found nearly half (45 per cent) of institutional investors increased their allocation to private markets. In the next year, […]
The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan returned 1.1 per cent during the first quarter of 2025, a slight decrease from 1.6 per cent in the previous quarter, according to a new report by RBC Investor Services. It found Canadian equities returned 1.2 per cent, slightly underperforming the TSX composite index, which rose 1.5 per […]
Under unprecedented economic volatility, institutional investors are leaning on diversified asset mixes that are less reliant on public markets, says Claude St-Laurent, principal of pension and savings at Normandin Beaudry. He notes institutional investors are more frequently pushing beyond traditional equities and bonds to incorporate real estate, infrastructure and other alternative assets. Indeed, in the […]
With a second Donald Trump presidency unleashing global uncertainty, emerging markets nations are forging new alliances and building a foundation for sustainable long-term growth. Indeed, despite the alarming headlines, the view from institutional investors is one of optimism with a healthy side of skepticism. A report by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. found emerging markets […]
In an increasingly uncertain investment landscape, the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corp. is aiming to become more hands-on with its investment implementation. “Each asset class is at a different phase of that structure,” says Steve Mahoney, the NSPSC’s chief investment officer. “We’re looking at each one asking, ‘What’s the next step for us to be […]
Michael Montgomery used to check the balance on his retirement account once a week and smile. But lately, not wanting to get upset and question if he could retire in a few years, there was only one solution. “I’m not looking,” says the 66-year-old professor from Huntington Woods, Mich. As the White House simultaneously injects […]
Public equities account for, on average, 42 per cent of asset owners’ portfolios, according to a new report by Northern Trust Corp. The report, based on a survey of 180 global asset owners with investment portfolios ranging between US$1 billion and US$500 billion, found stocks were followed by fixed income (27 per cent) and private […]
The average solvency ratio of Canadian pension plans declined three per cent as at March 31, 2025, according to a new report by Normandin Beaudry. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, the average solvency ratio reached 111 per cent. The decrease was attributed to a combination of increased liabilities and investment performance, […]
The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan increased both on a solvency and accounting basis in January, according to Telus Health’s latest pension index. It found the average funded position increased slightly on a solvency basis from 100 per cent to 101.6 per cent at the end of the month. On […]
The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is reporting a weighted average net return of 9.9 per cent as at Dec. 31, 2024. At the end of the year, the investment organization’s net assets under management grew to $86 billion, compared to $77.4 billion at the end of 2023. The IMCO’s annualized long-term results were 4.2 […]