Proposed Pension System Faces Fiscal and Political Hurdles
A proposal to create universal retirement accounts in the US could have huge effects on the investment consulting and asset management businesses—but the devil is in the details.
Newsmakers
What Can Asset Owners Learn From Knight Cap's Blunder?
As Knight Capital fights for its survival, investors should learn from its failures to protect their future capital against illiquidity, wide market fluctuations, and ultimately losses, industry commentators say.
Deficits Up, Funding Ratios Down at Corporate Pensions
Corporate pension funds finished July with record-high deficits and record-low funding ratios, according to new data released by Mercer.
Stock Losses, Low Interest Rates Pummel New Jersey Pension as Indiana Reduces Target
Faced with a year of stock losses and record-low interest rates, New Jersey's $69.9 billion public pension system has missed its return target of 7.95% for the fiscal year as Indiana's scheme has reduced its target to the lowest among schemes nationwide.
Survey: Asset Management Firms Need a Wake-Up Call
Profit among asset management firms globally is at risk as choppy markets take a bite into profit, according to an industry analysis surveying 96 money managers worldwide.
Tanzania Joins Neighbours with SWF Launch
Natural resources are helping developing nations to gain financial firepower.
Get ’Em While They’re Young (and Old)
It's all about strategy in staffing investment departments at public pensions and sovereign funds, according to a new white paper by AIMCo Deputy CIO Jagdeep Bachher and economist Ashby Monk.
QE a Double-Edged Sword for Institutional Investors
The Federal Reserve’s August 1 meeting could bring news of a fresh round of quantitative easing, something that could bring ecstasy to markets but some pain to institutions investing against liabilities.
US Courts Closed to BP Shareholders
Dividends were pulled and share prices sank – but where can shareholders find redress?
Liability-to-Market-Value Ratio Skyrockets for Eurozone Companies
Eurozone corporate pension deficits nearly doubled since 2007/8 as share of market value, according to Mercer.
NY State Brings in ex-Wall St CIO
Pension funds are still sailing pretty rough seas, but one of the largest in the US has a new skipper at the helm to navigate the choppy waters.
Oregon Treasurer: State Pension Should Lower Expected Rate of Return
Oregon’s treasurer is advocating for a drop in the expected rate of return that the state’s $60 billion pension plan uses to calculate funding levels.
Securities Lending Veteran Resurfaces
As ‘risk’ continues to be the theme of the day, a seasoned veteran takes up a new post to oversee and control it at an independent securities lending firm.
Wyoming Pension: Time for a Fund Manager Fee Structure Makeover
The $6.5 billion Wyoming Retirement System's John Johnson and Jeffrey Straayer say that fee structures for fund managers need to shift control into the hands of asset owners -- the chief investment officers and other investing heads of pensions.
Cash-Strapped City Turns to Pension Fund For Loan
The mayor of Scranton, Penn., is hoping to secure a $16 million loan from the city’s struggling pension funds.