What effect do low interest rates really have on how pension funds invest and what are the long-term consequences? When plan sponsors are underfunded, they have a few set options, according to a new paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. For a state-sponsored plan, the choice of whether to take on assets with higher […]
Morneau Shepell Ltd. has appointed Mazen Shakeel as vice-president and practice leader for asset and risk management, effective July 2019. In the new role, he’ll assist plan sponsors with investment, outsourced chief investment officer, risk management and transfer-related needs. Read: Morneau Shepell to acquire some of Mercer’s U.S. health, DB plan administration business As an actuary with […]
Institutional portfolios have been tilted towards growth assets as they’ve reached for higher returns during the bull market of the last decade. But as the business cycle continues to stretch, it’s a prudent time to consider downside protection measures. Wylie Tollette, executive vice-president and head of client investment solutions for Franklin Templeton’s multi-asset solutions business, […]
BlackRock Inc. is shaking up the private equity industry with a new longer-term approach to the asset class. In April, the firm announced it was ready to start investing its long-term private capital vehicle, which had $2.75 billion in capital committed from cornerstone investors at the time. According to BlackRock, the permanent capital vehicle will […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Beaudier Inc. are among a group providing $500 million in private capital refinancing to Quebec-based McInnis Cement. Alongside a $200-million loan from the Caisse and Beaudier, a syndicate of 11 Canadian and international banks will be providing $300 million. The pension fund’s last investment in McInnis was $125 […]
Global protectionism appears to be here for the long game. While investors may not want to start playing defence just yet, it might be time to start practicing again. In it’s mid-year outlook, the BlackRock Investment Institute noted risk reduction, including elevating the levels of cash in a portfolio, would be a prudent measure given the […]
Nearly half (46 per cent) of the world’s highest-emitting publicly listed companies aren’t adequately considering climate risk in their operational decision-making, according to a new report. Conducted for the Transition Pathway Initiative by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, the report used FTSE Russell data […]
A disconnect exists between defined contribution plan sponsors’ intentions and actions when it comes to helping employees with financial wellness, according to a new survey by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Among more than 800 U.S. DC plan sponsors, 74 per cent said they have a very or somewhat high commitment to employees’ fiscal health, although […]
With the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada and a patchwork of regulations governing its use in various states in the U.S., the sector’s influence is growing, according to new research by MSCI Inc. In total, 50 countries now allow some form of medical cannabis use, while six countries have legalized it recreationally. In terms of public […]
Hedge funds increasingly influenced by their institutional investor clients: report Increasing numbers of institutional investors are entering hedge funds and driving the industry to provide more bespoke offerings, according to the Alternative Investment Management Association’s latest research. More than half of survey respondents from the hedge fund industry said customized solutions are crucial to driving […]