International equity remained the most popular product category among its clients last year, according to Mercer Investment Consulting.
U.S. equity was the second most popular category. “The total number of searches conducted has remained broadly stable over recent years,” says Andy Barber, global and European head of research for Mercer IC. “What has changed has been a slow but steady increase in search activity in non-traditional asset classes in all regions.
Canada experienced the same search activity in 2006 as in 2005, but overall aggregate assets placed were higher in 2006 than over the three preceding years.
As anticipated, Canadian equity search mandates declined in favour of foreign equity mandates following the removal of the foreign property rule in 2005.
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