A majority (77 per cent) of U.S.-based institutional investors expect interest rates and inflation to remain elevated in 2024, causing problems for risk assessments over the next year, according to a new survey by CoreData. The survey, which polled 100 U.S. institutional investors, found the number of investors concerned about the role of inflation over […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board returned 0.1 per cent during the second quarter of fiscal 2024, according to its latest quarterly report. By Sept. 30, 2023, the investment organization’s net assets were $576 billion, compared to $575 billion at the end of the previous quarter. The $1 billion increase in net assets consisted of $488 million in net income and $700 million in […]
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago, the global economy has faced a bumpy ride, led by the lingering public health crisis, rising geopolitical tensions and high inflation. The 2023 Defined Contribution Investment Forum, which was held on Sept. 29 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto, shared thought leadership on the various […]
Defined contribution pension plan members are currently in a different place, especially the younger generations, who are likely feeling as though their financial priorities don’t line up with workplace pensions the way they did for previous generations. “What I’m getting at here is the idea that retirement saving isn’t the undeniable consensus top priority it […]
While fixed income has long had the reputation of being the conservative and stable supporting partner in the traditional balanced portfolio, unbundling fixed income into its sub-components presents opportunities for enhanced risk-adjusted returns, said Aaron Young, vice-president and client portfolio manager at CIBC Asset Management. When investors buy the FTSE universe bond index or even […]
The value of the total assets under management for the world’s 500 largest asset managers reached US$113.7 trillion as of Dec. 31, 2022, down 13.7 per cent from the previous year, according to a new report by WTW’s Thinking Ahead Institute. In a press release, Jessica Gao, director of the Thinking Ahead Institute, said asset […]
The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan returned negative four per cent in the third quarter of 2023, according to two new reports. The RBC Investor and Treasury Services’ universe, which tracks performance and asset allocation across Canadian DB plans, found the most recent quarterly losses mean the average return has decreased to 1.9 per cent […]
The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate steady at five per cent, but hasn’t ruled out future rate hikes as price pressures remain high. “With clearer signs that monetary policy is moderating spending and relieving price pressures, governing council decided to hold the policy rate at five per cent,” said the Bank of […]
Climate and cybersecurity are the leading risk factors concerning Canadian pension plan administrators, according to a pension lawyer. Susan G. Seller, a pension and benefits lawyer at Bennett Jones LLP, adds third-party arrangements and commercial real estate risks round out the most pressing categories for federally regulated pension plans. “We’re living in a time where […]
Canada’s retirement system ranks No. 12 out of 47 countries but has room for improvement amid a challenging economy and ageing population, according to a new report by Mercer and the CFA Institute. The report analyzed retirement systems based on adequacy, sustainability and integrity. It ranked the Netherlands with the highest score (85.1 out of 100), […]