August 2022

Mercer’s Asia Retirement Survey Report

By Mercer Conducted over 2019 to 2021, this series leverages our client base across Asia, and aims to bring together common issues in retirement security that Asia business leaders, HR and Finance partners can take action on. In combination, we have surveyed views from more than 700 employers from all industries, with responsibility for the well-being of over 120,000 employees. Get the report here

What we can learn from the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund

IF you’re cautious about where stock markets are headed next, you’re in good company. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund - the largest in the world - has reported it had a challenging time in the first half of the year and its chief executive Nicolai Tangen is unconvinced the bear market for shares is over quite yet. So what can we learn from this? Norway’s sovereign wealth fund was started in 1996 in order to invest the proceeds of a burgeoning...

New York City pension fund returns plunge in difficult year

The five pension funds within the $239.5 billion New York City Retirement System each posted negative returns for the fiscal year ended June 30, ranging from -7.17% to -9.77%, according to data posted on the website of Brad Lander, the city comptroller and fiduciary for the five pension funds. The individual pension fund results are in sharp contrast to the returns for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 when all posted net results ranging from 24.8% to 28%. Mr. Lander reported...

Canadian pension fund CDPQ explores legal options over failed crypto firm

Canada's second-largest pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is exploring legal options over bankrupt crypto lending firm Celsius and will no longer invest in crypto firms, it said on Wednesday. CDPQ's statement came as the fund recovers from its failed investment in New Jersey-based Celsius, which filed for bankruptcy in July less than a year after it received an investment of $150 million from the fund. "We will preserve our rights and explore legal options," CDPQ Chief...

UK. Transfer volumes could hit £600bn as insurers post strong results

A host of insurers have revealed their first-half 2022 results that show a booming trade in risk transfers, which, by some projections, could hit £600bn over the next decade — though there are fears about a capacity crunch in the sector. Read more Older people face losing €1,532 in spending power by end of year Of those that have released their results so far, Aviva saw bulk annuity sales increase by 15 per cent, rising to £1.9bn, which compares with £1.6bn...

Tough Times Ahead Warns CEO of Australia’s Largest Pension Fund

Consumers and businesses will continue to struggle as global policy makers battle to get inflation under control, the head of Australia’s largest pension fund told a media forum. “Our view is that there are some pretty tough times ahead,” Paul Schroder, chief executive officer of the A$260 billion ($182 billion) AustralianSuper Pty, said on Tuesday. “We think we are in a continually tight environment. The question now is what is the rate of that tightening and is there a pivot around...

Japan’s GPIF eyes more alternatives after promising returns

After joining alternatives investment rush relatively late, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) is now speeding up its allocation to the asset class after solid initial performances. As of end June 2022, alternative investments made up 1.32% of the ¥193 trillion ($1.5 trillion) portfolio, amounting to ¥2.548 trillion. The alternatives portfolio was up from ¥1.456 trillion a year before, an increase of about 75% in one year. While growth might not continue to be as rapid, GPIF is advertising for new...

Ghana. SSNIT to embark on mass registration exercise

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it will soon embark on a mass registration exercise, especially among those in the informal sector to shore up its membership. The prime objective is to ensure many Ghanaian workers are enrolled onto the scheme as against the current situation where only 1.7 million out of the remaining millions of the workers are active members of SSNIT. Read more Nigeria. Pension fund, contributors hit N14trn, 9m respectively – PenCom Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, the...

Canada. CPPIB returns -4.2% in quarter on equity market losses

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Toronto, returned a net -4.2% for the quarter ended June 30, the first quarter of its 2023 fiscal year, said a news release Thursday. CPPIB, which manages the assets of the Canada Pension Plan, said the pension fund's net assets totaled C$523 billion ($406.1 billion) as of June 30, down 3% from C$539 billion three months earlier. The C$16 billion quarterly decrease in net assets consisted of a net investment loss of C$23 billion and C$7...

Canada Pension Plan discloses billions in investments

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Toronto, reported a large number of investments and commitments it made in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2023, according to news release Thursday issued along with its results for its first fiscal quarter that ended June 30. CPP Investments, which manages the assets of the C$523 billion ($406.1 billion) Canada Pension Plan, said in the fiscal first quarter it closed a C$230 million investment in the term loans of Legal Search, a provider...