What Your Consultant Is Saying About…Japan
As investors grapple with the impact of Japan's quake, consultants assess the resulting pitfalls and areas of opportunity.
News
For Securities Lending and Custody, Is Decoupling Gaining Momentum?
With a Deutsche Bank mandate to execute unbundled securities lending for the Employees Retirement System of Texas, further proof that the age of unbundling may be emerging.
Texas Lawmakers See Light on Hedge Fund Investments
The Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS) may double the amount it allocates to hedge funds after a state representative introduced a bill raising the cap on investment in the asset class.
Survey: Investors Fearful Over Growth, Profitability
A BofA Merrill Lynch Survey of Fund Managers conducted in March shows that investors are wary about corporate profitability and global growth.
Against Trend of Diversification, Caisse Boosts Investments in Local Companies
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec announced that it has increased its investments in publicly traded Québec companies by more than $800 million.
SDCERA's Partridge: Roles Not Confused, California Plans Should Share Resources
Lee Partridge speaks with aiCIO following the release of internal emails from the San Diego County Employees Retirement Association that portray confusion at the plan; he also believes that county and city plans within the state should share investment resources under a cooperative structure to achieve greater efficiencies.
Japanese Insurance Capital Invested Abroad Expected to Move Home
Just how much of the estimated $3 trillion in Japanese assets held outside the country will be repatriated due to the earthquake, tsunami, and potential nuclear disaster has yet to be seen.
CalPERS Lambastes $180 Million in Placement Agent Activity
The nation's largest pension has released a special 56-page review on placement agent activity, accusing a former chief executive and two former board members of steering billions of dollars to politically connected firms; refuses rate-of-return cut.
Swiss Pension Conference Champions Risk-Taking
Representatives of various Swiss Pensionskassen agreed that funds should take risk, if they can afford it.
Commodities Firms Shy Away From Dodd-Frank Reforms
Commodities companies are fearing the impacts of the Dodd-Frank Act, which will likely lead to increased costs.
Pensions May Be Unwise Allocating to Gold
Should pension funds allocate to the volatile commodity, often viewed as an inflation hedge?
Survey Shows Some UK Pension Managers View Fiduciary Management With Distaste
Not all pension fund managers in the UK are embracing fiduciary management, according to a survey by Pensions Management and Pensions Week.
CalPERS May Lower Investment Target, Raising Rates
CalPERS actuaries are recommending a decrease in the investment earnings forecast used to discount pension obligations in the future.
Report Says Regulations Must Encourage SWFs to Invest in US Infrastructure
The Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, has released a study stating that US policymakers should offer incentives to encourage sovereign wealth funds to pursue American infrastructure.
Equities Remain a Preferred Asset Class, Lipper Says
In the week ended March 9, investors pumped nearly three times the amount into US-domiciled equity mutual funds from the prior period.