A thick fog is clouding institutional investors’ efforts to gain clarity on the global market outlook, but certain key themes are peeking through, according to Manulife Investment Management’s mid-year report. Geopolitical unrest continues to be a cause for concern, the report noted. The escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and China could point to a […]
The fourth quarter of 2018 saw the largest decline since 2011 in a retiring member’s ability to create a secure retirement income, according to a report by Eckler Ltd. At the end of 2018, replacement income for women fell to 55 per cent and for men to 56 per cent. The fourth-quarter decline is a result of steep […]
Following years of steady, globally synchronized growth, volatility is back. In the final weeks of 2018, North American stock markets were especially hectic, posting losses in December to round out a relatively challenging year. Virtually every asset class, with the notable exception of commodities, has done well over the past decade, says Bert Clark, president […]
Based on the five options put forward in British Columbia’s consultation on reforming pension solvency rules, the option to replace the current requirements with enhanced going-concern funding requirements is the favoured course of action, according to the Association of Canadian Pension Management. In its letter to the B.C. government in response to the consultation, which […]
For those worried the cycle is about to turn, it’s important to remember there’s no established length for a market cycle, said Avery Shenfeld, managing director and chief economist at CIBC, during a panel at Benefits Canada‘s and the Canadian Investment Review‘s inaugural Investor Insight Breakfast in Toronto on Jan. 10. Indeed, the typical recession signposts have yet […]
The complicated relationship between real estate and interest rates makes it important to know the role different types of properties play in a portfolio and to use public real estate for liquidity to keep a focus on core property, said Derek Warren, vice-president at Lincluden Investment Management. Speaking during a session at the 2018 Defined […]
While no one can know for certain if inflation is coming bank, David Zanutto, senior investment consultant at Mercer, says that the risks of inflation moving higher have increased. He points particularly to low levels of unemployment, which could translate to wage growth and higher inflation. Other factors that could lead to higher inflation include […]
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 […]
Household debt and high housing prices are complicating an otherwise fairly rosy picture of the Canadian economy, said Stephen Poloz, governor of the Bank of Canada, in a speech hosted by the CFA Society Toronto on Thursday. The bank’s most recent rate decision, which took place on Wednesday, maintained the current rate of 1.75 per cent. […]
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 […]