The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan increased slightly both on a solvency and accounting basis in April, according to Telus Health’s latest pension index. It found the average funded position increased slightly on a solvency basis from 97.7 per cent to 98.2 per cent at the end of the month. […]
Two organizations representing the interests of Canadian pension funds are asking the federal government to bring back Canada’s real return bond program. In a joint letter, the Pension Investment Association of Canada and the Association of Canadian Pension Management, which speak on behalf of organizations managing more than $3 trillion in assets under management, asked […]
The Saskatchewan Pension Plan is reassuring plan members its asset mix is designed to withstand shifts stemming from global disruptions and economic uncertainty. In a new note to members, the $829-million pension fund said recent developments are creating significant economic uncertainty, with potential for higher inflation, slower growth and greater market volatility. Read: Institutional investors […]
Amid a new cycle of market volatility caused by U.S. tariffs, institutional investors are facing a dilemma when selecting active or passive management strategies for their public equities portfolios, says John Wilson, founding principal, co-chief executive officer and managing partner at Ninepoint Partners LP. “People are looking for strategies that offer lower correlation to give […]
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 […]