Liking Gold’s Ascent? Just Wait for the Plunge, Study Warns
Duke’s Campbell Harvey charts the wacky ups and downs of the precious metal.
Asset Allocation
Study: Endowments Have Underperformed Passive Portfolios for 58 Years
New research finds a 60/40 passive benchmark has outperformed the average endowment over nearly six decades.
Long-Range Investing, a Decline in Births, and a Fertility Rate that’s Scared of COVID-19
What to consider with COVID-19 accelerating an already steady baby bust.
UK Pension NEST Aims for Net-Zero Carbon by 2050
New climate change policy expected to halve portfolio’s carbon emissions within 10 years.
Rhode Island Pension Returns 3.8% in 2020 to Hit Record-High Asset Value
‘Crisis Protection Class’ defensive strategy helps portfolio double benchmark’s return.
Norges Bank Raises Stake to 5% in Fossil Fuels Giant BHP
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, which has been divesting coal and oil stocks, has the Australian company on a kind of probation.
COVID-19 Relief Packages Help Fuel Ultra-Low Interest Rates
EIOPA warns that persistent low rates pose a ‘systemic risk’ for insurers.
Temasek Boosts Cybersecurity and Biotech Investments
The Singapore sovereign wealth fund placed wagers on two American companies, cyber-services startup BlueVoyant and biosensors business Glympse Bio.
US Insurers Aren’t as Concerned About Climate Risk as Global Peers, GSAM Finds
Just half of American carriers consider global warming during their investment process, versus more than 70% of their European and Asian counterparts.
Student Housing Investment Remains Uncertain, S&P Says
Some pension funds and other institutions have taken big positions in the segment.
Australia’s Second Largest Pension to Divest from Thermal Coal
The fund also said it will reduce emissions from its listed equities by at least 30% in under three years.
Endowments Should Abandon Alts for Passive Investments, Report Says
Research shows that alternatives have become ‘serious drag’ on institutional fund performance.
Group of Pension Funds Worth $1 Trillion Creates Sustainable Investing Platform
The subscriber-based online tool reviews 8,000 companies against United Nation’s sustainability criteria.
Sam Zell Calls Markets ‘Too Optimistic,’ Expects U-Shaped Recovery
Although he says the economy is now in a recession, Zell doesn’t think it will be as deep as expected.
Is Setting ESG Standards Too Puzzling? Get Wide Feedback, SASB Says
If the rules seem subjective or unworkable, a good alternative for companies is to ask outside groups for their input, the sustainability advisory group suggests.