Newsmakers
New Mexico Governor Pitches Plan to Bring State Pension to Solvency
Task force sees cost-of-living adjustments as the necessary scapegoat for pension’s financial health.
News
Market Moves
Oh, Swell: August Is the Worst Month for Stocks
Bad things tend to happen this month, which tank the market, LPL’s Detrick warns.
Research
Canadian DB Plans Return 2.7% in Q2 2019
Total returns for the first half of the year register a robust 10.2%.
Caesars Wins Withdrawal Liability Lawsuit Against Pension
Court rules casino operator not obligated to pay $2 million withdrawal fee.
Regulation
Louisiana Pension Sues Cardinal Health over Cordis Acquisition
Class action suit alleges company misrepresentations led to ‘artificially inflated’ share prices.
Companies’ Towering Debt Might Not Bring Widespread Defaults
Junk bonds do better when interest rates are low, like now, Nataxis finds.
Asset Allocation
NYC Pension Funds Beats Target, Returns 7.24% in 2019
Higher return on actuarial asset value equates to $112 million in total savings
Corporate Moves
Amherst Names Letitia Johnson CIO, Moves Investment Office to Boston
Johnson joins $2.9 billion endowment from Cambridge Associates, but won’t have to relocate.
Alternatives
Despite State’s Hardline Stance, Tennessee Pension Holds Marijuana Stocks
Treasurer moves to sell after stock in IIP discovered in small-cap index investment.
Regulation
Moody’s: Kentucky Pension Reform Is a Negative for State’s Credit Rating
Credit agency says the reform only pushes costs into the future. Gov. Bevin says he’s ‘not surprised.’
CDPQ Returns 8.3% in Five Years, Beats Benchmark
Six-month returns fall short due to weak real assets performance.
Passive Makes Active Aggressive
Index-tracking trend forces active managers to cut fees to compete.
Oil Prices Are in the Dumps, but Why?
The market thinks the trade war will ax demand, which is pretty good now.
Risk
British American Tobacco in £3.4 Billion Pension Buy-In Deal
Fund is fifth FTSE 100 pension plan to complete risk transfer transaction in 2019.
Newsmakers
Energy Institute Blasts BlackRock for Fossil Fuel Losses Despite Renewable Energy Efforts
Report maintains BlackRock lost $90 billion over the past decade due to fossil fuel investments; firm says conclusions are ‘misplaced.’