Asset Allocation
Endowments Should Hold on to Value Assets, NEPC Says
Growth assets and strong manager selection have helped endowments outperform this year.
News Archive: Dec - 2020
Coronavirus - COVID-19
CEO Charged in Rapid COVID-19 Test Scam
Decision Diagnostics’ stock soared 1,500% in less than two months on allegedly false claims of a 15-second COVID-19 test.
Opinion
Opinion: Active Ownership and Fund-Level Reporting Are Key to Combating Greenwashing
Sarah Bratton Hughes, head of sustainability, North America, at Schroders, says it’s imperative to increase transparency and standardize reporting for ESG investments.
Market Moves
Market Already Has Priced in Good 2021 Earnings, Says Moody’s
Profit forecasts are heady for next year, after 2020’s bust. But it won’t boost stocks much, John Lonski says.
Asset Allocation
GPIF Invests $12.5 Billion in Morningstar, MSCI ESG Benchmarks
The Japanese pension giant has already started passively investing with the two US index providers.
Alternatives
CDPQ to Invest $1 Billion into Wind and Solar Firm Invenergy
The Quebec pension fund hopes the funding will cement the renewable firm’s industry-leading position in North America.
Asset Management Culture
Why Smith College Is Moving Its Endowment In-House
The $2 billion fund, now in the market for its first CIO, decided it’s big enough to shift asset management internally.
Alternatives
Hedge Funds Finally Nose Past the S&P 500
After too many years of drag-butt performance, they’ve taken advantage of a volatile 2020.
Pensions
Time Runs Out for Multiemployer Pension Reform in 2020
Senators Grassley and Alexander say it’s too late to include their plan in year-end legislation.
Pensions
GE Agrees to $1.7 Billion Buyout; BBC Pension Secures £3 Billion Longevity Swap
Athene will provide annuity benefits to approximately 70,000 GE retirees.
Asset Management Culture
Veteran Series: For Matt Clark, Investing Is a Matter of Principle
A secret of the South Dakota pension plan chief’s success: putting a premium on inculcating strong values among staff members.
Market Moves
December Should Be OK, Just Not Its Usual Top-Tier Self
Muted market gains this month, strategists say, are overshadowed by blow-out earlier months.
Research
Texas Sees Sharp Rise in Troubled Funds
State and local pension funds with ‘infinite’ amortization periods increased 50% from last year.
Asset Allocation
CPPIB, AustralianSuper, UniSuper Invest in US Toll Road
The pension heads in Canada and Australia believe the infrastructure assets will guard against inflation.
Regulation
DOL Finalizes Fiduciary Exemption Consistent with Best Interest Standard
Investment professionals can collect payment for a wider range of transactions, so long as they satisfy the reinstated ‘five-part test’ for fiduciaries.