Newsmakers

September 27, 2012

NISA Puts Stake in the Ground With Volatility Index

Corporate plan fiduciaries and industry analysts may be comforted that future volatility in pension plans may be forecasted based on available data, which NISA has harnessed with its newly released index.

September 27, 2012

Harvard Endowment Loses Value but Beats Benchmark

The $30.7 billion fund took a beating on emerging market equities, but solidly outperformed its real assets benchmark. 

September 26, 2012

The Best Debt: Corporate DB Plans

New research finds that compared to regular corporate debt, pension obligations are less expensive to carry and boost real investment. 

September 26, 2012

State Street’s Smit Moves to Data & Analytics Unit

Steve Smit, who has been serving in the firm’s European offices, will return to the US for a role in the new unit.

September 25, 2012

Top-Performing Pensions, Endowments and Foundations: A Ranked List

Which North American funds had the best returns over the past five years? We know.

September 25, 2012

The FOMO Element of Discretionary Consulting

As more and more investment consultants crowd into the discretionary consulting space, perhaps spurred by a fear of missing out (FOMO) mentality, some within the industry say the potential cost of not following the herd could be a problem.

September 25, 2012

PPF Ups Levy as Contingent Asset Use Falls

The PPF has upped the levy for corporate DB funds next year, but relief comes as it is capped at this year's level.

September 24, 2012

SWFs: The New Geopolitical Power Tools, Says MIT Scholar

Forget nuclear weapons—the arsenal of the future is sovereign wealth, according to a major research paper.

September 24, 2012

Say on Pay – Investors Will Not Hold Back

Executive pay discussions are to come out of the boardroom and into the light as investors push for more say.

September 21, 2012

New Return Target for Illinois Teachers’ Pension

The largest public pension in Illinois’ notoriously under-funded system has cut its discount rate from 8.5% to 8%. 

September 21, 2012

Fitch Raises Concerns Over NJ’s Unfunded Liabilities

The 60.8%-funded public pension system poses a serious challenge to the state's financial health, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings.

September 21, 2012

More Canadian Mega-Funds?

Canada is known for its large, sophisticated institutional investors – there may be two more on the way.

September 21, 2012

Oregon Hires Pension Investment Director

After a year-long search, Oregon has someone to manage its pensions.

September 20, 2012

Are Institutional Investors Fueling Stock Market Liquidity?

The market has witnessed an overall growth in institutional equity ownership in the US--has this growth affected market liquidity?

September 20, 2012

Pension Scholar: DB vs. DC Debate is 'Dysfunctional'

The Director of the Rotman International Centre for Pension Management thinks it’s time to quit the DB vs. DC argument, and come up with a new breed of pension plan.