California Referendums Provide Harbinger for Public Pensions Across US
Decisive votes in San Diego and San Jose to lessen the burden of public sector pensions may prove a bellwether for public plans across the United States.
Newsmakers
PIMCO's El-Erian: America Is Healing, Slowly
Is the economy of the United States on the upswing?
Russian, Chinese SWFs to Launch $4 Billion Investment Vehicle
The Russian Direct Investment Fund and China Investment Corporation have announced their decision to create a joint investment fund that could be worth as much as $4 billion.
Is 'Hostility' Toward Whistleblowers of Public Pensions Unjust?
A former investment officer at the San Diego County Employees' Retirement Association has sued the scheme over his termination as his proponents cite a pattern of hostility and retaliation toward so-called whistleblowers. The San Diego County Civil Service Commission, however, found SDCERA's actions were just.
Norway Pushes Pensions to Fund Oil Industry
Money for oil exploration has dried up in the capital markets; Norway has turned to a new source of funding.
Senators, Prime Ministers–and Texas Teachers' CIO–Attend Bilderberg Conference
Britt Harris, the chief investment officer of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, is taking part in the exclusive Bilderberg Meetings, an historically secretive conference that has encountered scrutiny and backlash for allegedly aggregating only the rich and powerful.
Three Cheers for Local Gov't Pension Scheme. Now What?
Unions and employers have agreed a new deal for local government pensions – all they have to do now is implement it.
Pension Taps Water Co for Inflation-Linked Returns
Did someone say ‘illiquid asset’? A UK pension fund has bought into a water company for the long-term inflation link.
Risk Parity Skeptic Says Leverage Has Limits
Thought risk parity was the right thing for your portfolio? Maybe there’s another side to the story.
Paper on Market Forecasting Wins AQR Award
AQR Capital Management has presented its first annual AQR Insight Award to Bryan Kelly, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Seth Pruitt, Ph.D., of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for their unpublished research in predicting market returns more accurately over one-month and one-year time horizons.
Towers Watson ‘Delegated Investment’ Assets on the Rise
Pension funds are delegating more and more investment decisions - are consultants picking up more business than asset managers?
Illinois Fund OKs State Street, Others for Transition Management
The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System has approved the hiring of State Street Global Markets, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Citi Group, and Loop Capitol to handle transition management services.
An Alternative QE3?
The International Monetary Fund agreed that Quantitative Easing is working in the UK, but there could be another way for the economy to be supported without pensions feeling the pain?
CalPERS Clamors for Wal-Mart Investigation
There must be a thorough and independent investigation into the bribery allegations involving Wal-Mart's largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico, dating back to 2005, California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) has asserted.
How Dynamic Portfolio Strategies Can Help Corporate Pensions
Sophisticated dynamic allocation strategies can be useful to corporation pensions, according to research published by the EDHEC-Risk Institute.