The solvency ratio of Ontario’s defined benefit pension plans jumped four per cent in the third quarter of 2020, according to an update by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. The increase is further evidence that market recovery is well underway since the coronavirus pandemic rocked the world economy in early 2020, noted the […]
Whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump ultimately wins the White House, the stock market is already a clear winner this week. While there were fears that a longer than usual wait to determine the winner of the U.S. presidential race would lead to wild market volatility, that didn’t come to pass. But signs were there over the […]
As institutional investors increase allocations to alternative investments, it becomes increasingly challenging to understand risk. A new paper, co-authored by Spencer Couts, assistant professor of real estate at the University of Southern California; Andrei S. Goncalves, an assistant professor of finance at the University of North Carolina; and Andrea Rossi, an assistant professor of finance […]
The Local Authorities Pension Plan is in an interesting situation. Historically, the president of the Alberta Treasury Board and the minister of finance was the plan’s legal trustee and administrator, but in 2019, the LAPP became independent of government, with its own sponsor board and corporation, which now acts as the plan’s trustee and administrator. […]
Willis Towers Watson is appointing Tony Rooke as director of climate transition risk in the organization’s climate and resilience hub. In the new role, Rooke will drive WTW’s client guidance on climate transition risk disclosure, management and opportunities. Read more People Watch news With more than 22 years of global experience in climate change, sustainability, strategy, advisory […]
The impact of powerful trends, including aging populations and growing debt levels in the world’s largest economies, has been somewhat mitigated in recent years by the ongoing involvement of central banks in markets and declining interest rates. However, with rates at historic lows, this is not something that can be relied on over the next […]
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute is looking to more deeply examine the financial industry’s role in mitigating climate change. In a new report, the CFA Institute examined how investors can engage with the issue of climate change. It noted a recent survey of its members found 40 per cent of respondents incorporate climate change information […]
A majority (79 per cent) of institutional investors see a global economic slowdown as the top threat to their portfolios in the next 12 months, according to a new survey by Schroders. Prompted by coronavirus-related concerns, it’s a big jump from the 49 per cent of respondents that said the same in 2019. Those concerns are also […]
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is launching a three-month consultation on risks and other considerations regarding technological advancements impacting Canada’s financial sector. Along with a discussion paper, the consultation’s objective is to ensure federally regulated financial institutions and pension plans have solid strategies to manage non-financial risks. According to the agency, while rapidly […]
The Canada Climate Law Initiative is calling into question whether the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is sufficiently aligning its investments with the transition to a low-carbon economy. In a legal analysis, the organization said the pension fund’s current allocations to high-carbon assets reveal a “troubling incrementalism” within its efforts to mitigate Canadians’ exposure to […]