May 2024
13May

APG’s Singapore CEO: Sustainable investing is taking centre stage

Sustainability considerations are being increasingly integrated into APG Asset Management's investment approach, according to Eric Van der Maarel, chief executive officer of APG Asset Management's Singapore branch. Amid evolving market conditions and a shifting economic cycle, such integration will foster resilience and diversification, Van der Maarel said at a panel discussion at AsianInvestor’s Investment Strategy Summit on May 7 in Singapore. "What you've seen over the past two years is that our priority in terms of maximising returns, and having a real sustainability footprint as...

May 13, 2024
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09May

Kenya. Pension funds cut stock holdings to 11-year low of Sh145 billion

Pension funds cut their holdings in listed shares (equities) to an 11-year low of Sh145.1 billion in the year ended December 2023, signalling reduced allocation to this asset class besides the impact of lower stock prices in the review period. New data from the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) shows that retirement schemes' investment in the stock market fell from Sh215.24 billion a year earlier. The disclosure of the latest holdings marked the lowest level since 2012, coinciding with the continued bear...

May 9, 2024
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08May

Why Europe’s largest investors are building their defense war chests

As war rages on Europe’s doorstep and authorities across the region explicitly encourage institutional investors to support national security, some European pension funds are changing their investment policies to put more money to work in the defense industry. Last month, Danish pension funds told Pensions & Investments that the war in Ukraine had led to a rethink of allocations to defense assets. Some had already been investing — carefully and always with a responsible investment framework in mind — in defense and aerospace...

May 8, 2024
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06May

US. Prudential Survey Reveals Insights on Retirement Planning

Prudential conducted a survey of 198 financial advisors to gain insight on how they are investing and constructing portfolios for retirees. 80% use separate portfolios that are specifically designed for retirees. Additionally, the use of targeted portfolios was higher among advisors who were more knowledgeable about planning for retirement. Another takeaway from the survey is that 50% of retirees prefer to live off of income from their portfolios. Thus, advisors need to ensure that their portfolios generate income for clients while balancing...

May 6, 2024
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03May

The ‘father of the 401(k)’ talks about the death of pensions, the future of retirement, and what disturbs him about his own creation

Americans have a lot of anxiety around retirement. Many people are dipping into their nest eggs to make ends meet amid soaring inflation, some boomers aren’t prepared to leave the workforce as they enter their golden years, and people are increasingly working past the typical retirement age. The most popular method for workers to save for retirement is the 401(k), which allows employees without employer-backed pensions to independently contribute to their own retirement savings, often with employer matching. But it’s not right for everyone, and the man who...

May 3, 2024
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April 2024
23Apr

ESG increasingly part of core business, CFO survey finds

An increasing number of companies integrate sustainability into their core business strategies, according to a survey of chief financial officers released April 22 by accounting and advisory firm BDO. The 2024 ESG Risk & ROI Survey found that companies see numerous benefits to ESG programs beyond simply responding to regulatory mandates. “By embedding ESG and sustainability initiatives into their organization’s overarching strategic agenda, CFOs can help retain top talent, better manage risk, and drive long-term resilience,” said Karen Baum, managing principal for the Sustainability...

April 23, 2024
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22Apr

US. Climate-related funds grow 16% in 2023 to $540 billion — Morningstar

Assets in mutual and exchange-traded funds with a climate-related mandate globally rose by 16% in 2023 to $540 billion, according to data collected by financial services firm Morningstar. The report said the increase was driven by continued inflows, product launches and market appreciation. Europe accounted for 84% of the climate-related assets, while China and the U.S. had market shares of 7% and 6%, respectively. However, the $40 billion of inflows into climate funds last year represented the lowest levels in four...

April 22, 2024
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18Apr

US. Pension funds, hedge funds must up game on liquidity in stressed markets — FSB

Pension funds, hedge funds and other non-bank market participants need to up their game when it comes to liquidity preparedness in times of marketwide stress, the Financial Stability Board said. A consultation paper published on April 17 by the FSB, an international body that monitors the global financial system and makes recommendations, identified weaknesses in risk management and governance as key causes of inadequate liquidity preparedness by some market participants during recent periods of liquidity stress in markets. The report highlighted recent...

April 18, 2024
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17Apr

UK pension schemes and insurers boost sustainable investments

95% of UK pension funds and insurers in a survey said they expect to increase allocations to renewable energy assets over the next five years. According to the survey commissioned by AlphaReal, a specialist manager of secure income real assets, 35% of respondents said they will increase allocations by up to 10%. About 44% said they will raise allocations by between 10% and 20%, while 16% will boost by more than 20%. The remainder of respondents said there will be no...

April 17, 2024
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