Asset Allocation
Investors Eye Emerging Markets for Some Relative Quiet
Investors may find opportunities in countries unlikely to be significantly affected by geopolitical volatility.
News
Market Moves
Conflict Not the Biggest Factor in Oil Prices Anymore
Economic factors, especially Chinese demand destruction and the growth of renewables, are flattening demand and increasing market volatility for fossil fuels.
Manager Selection
SDCERA Seeks Investment Consultant
The San Diego County pension issued a request for proposal, with submissions due by December 13.
Newsmakers
Sargent McGowan Named CIO for Endowments and Foundations at Brown Advisory
McGowan was previously managing director and acting CIO of UVIMCO.
Pensions
US PRT Market Sees $14B in Volume in Q3
Nearly half of this quarter’s pension risk transfer volume came from IBM’s $6 billion PRT with Prudential, per Legal & General Retirement America.
Pensions
Ontario DB Plans’ Funding Drops for 1st Time in Nearly 2 Years
The plans’ funded ratio was down two percentage points to 121% in Q3 due to a drop in discount rates.
Regulation
SEC Files Fewer Total Enforcement Actions, but Total Remedies Still Hit Record
More than half of the regulator's $8.2 billion in remedies for fiscal 2024 came from a securities fraud case against Terraform Labs.
Asset Allocation
Most Institutional Investors Underweight on Fixed Income
Per a survey from Managing Partners Group, 99% of investors plan to increase fixed-income allocations over the next 18 months.
Pensions
PBGC Provides Special Financial Assistance to 100th Pension Fund
In the latest grant, $41.5 million will be provided to the ILWU Employers’ - Warehousemen’s Plan.
Newsmakers
What Scott Bessent’s Appointment Means for Institutional Investors
The fund manager and former Soros CIO, set to be nominated as secretary of the treasury, has stated his intent to spur growth through deregulation and energy production.
Newsmakers
WAMCO CIO Charged With Fraud
Ken Leech was hit with fraud charges by the SEC for allegedly favoring some client portfolios over others in a scheme by which he profited.
Pensions
Kodak Considers Terminating Overfunded Pension Plan
Termination of the plan could net the company as much as $585 million, more than its market cap, though a final decision has not been finalized.
Asset Allocation
CPPIB, Pacific Asset Management Launch South Korea Data Center Joint Venture
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s C$285 million commitment follows several recent data center investments.
Pensions
Public Pension Funded Ratios Register 1st Decline Since April
The funded ratio for the 100 largest U.S. public pension plans fell by 160 basis points in October.
Asset Allocation
Largest 100 Asset Owners Manage Record $26.3T
The AUM of the largest asset owners reached a record high in 2023, jumping 12.3% from 2022, according to WTW’s Thinking Ahead Institute.