U.S. institutional investment plan sponsors lost 9% at the median in the third quarter of 2011, according to Northern Trust’s Universe database. The loss ends a streak of four consecutive quarters with positive results. The Northern Trust Universe represents the performance of about 300 large institutional investment plans, with a combined asset value of approximately […]
The market volatility of the past six months has rattled many investors, according to a Leger Marketing survey for BMO InvestorLine. Thirty-one percent of respondents said they were concerned that there is no end in sight to the rollercoaster ride they’ve experienced this year. Over half of Canadian investors (53%) are concerned that America’s and […]
U.S. workers can expect modest pay raises averaging 2.8% next year, compared to 2.7% in 2011 and 2.9% in 2010, according to a survey by Buck Consultants. The Compensation Planning for 2012 survey also found that 80% percent of respondents have a pay-for-performance philosophy, down from 87% last year. “Our research into pay practices reveals […]
More and more institutional investment managers are expecting the worst. They believe corporate earnings will decline, U.S. economic growth will slow and the European debt crisis will spill over to other areas of the market, this according to a survey by Northern Trust. Survey respondents also see U.S. equities as undervalued, but see investment opportunities […]
Originally from our sister publication, Advisor.ca. As risk aversion continues to haunt equity markets, corporate credit risk looks reasonably good. Despite deleveraging and a prolonged economic decline that threatens to take down companies, investing in corporate bonds might be a worthwhile alternative to equities. With about 10,000 issuers and an increasing number of emerging markets […]
Canada’s economy will avoid slipping back into recession, but growth will remain modest in 2011 and 2012, according to the Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Outlook—Autumn 2011. “The ongoing volatility in equity and commodity markets is a reminder of how fragile the state of the U.S. and global economy remains,” said Pedro Antunes, the Conference […]
Originally from our sister publication, Advisor.ca. Here’s a shock: international business and political events shook the confidence of Canadian investors in the third quarter. That’s the finding of the latest Manulife Financial Investor Sentiment Index survey. The debate over raising the American debt ceiling was cited by 34% of survey respondents as a cause for […]
Originally from our sister publication, Advisor.ca. World leaders need to co-operate on building a sustainable global financial framework, even if it means setting aside some of their national priorities in the process. The stakes are simply too high for larger economic players to chart their own course, according to a Canadian with some recent experience […]
Originally from our sister publication, Advisor.ca. In the months following Lehman Brothers’ implosion, investors stampeded into bonds, with U.S. Treasuries the issue of choice. Since then, market watchers have repeatedly warned of an impending slaughter, as interest rates would eventually have to rise. While that rise may be inevitable, it is not coming any time […]
While the news has been dominated by the European debt crisis, worries about jobs are what weighs most on U.S. consumer sentiment, according to the latest RBC Consumer Outlook Index. Amid continuing job concerns, U.S. consumer confidence remained nearly flat for October, the third consecutive month with little change, according to the RBC Consumer Outlook […]