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Latest news in Investment Strategies

Global pension funds still prefer active strategies on climate change investing: survey

Global pension funds still prefer active strategies on climate change investing: survey

The vast majority (81 per cent) of global pension plan sponsors said they have allocations to some kind of climate change-related funds, according to a new…

  • By: Staff
  • June 26, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 09:15
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UN PRI encouraging signatories to focus on real-world outcomes

The Principles for Responsible Investment has released a framework for investors to help focus on aligning their activities with the UN’s sustainable development goals. “Issues…

  • By: Staff
  • June 25, 2020 December 6, 2020
  • 08:10
Where can pension funds find returns in a low interest rate environment?

Where can pension funds find returns in a low interest rate environment?

Investors were already feeling the pressures of historically low interest rates. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. The Bank of Canada cut its overnight interest rate…

Back to basics on factor investing

Back to basics on factor investing

Factor investing is a style of management that aims to harvest the common traits of a group or basket of securities that helps inform their…

Downside protection strategy saves LAPP $1.9 billion

The volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic made the first quarter of 2020 rough for many Canadian defined benefit pension plans. In early June, the…

Vestcor Corp. returns 11.76% in 2019, updates pension admin system

Vestcor Corp. returns 11.76% in 2019, updates pension admin system

Vestcor Investment Management Corp. returned 11.76 per cent in 2019, with total assets under management rising to $18.5 billion, according to its 2019 annual report.…

  • By: Staff
  • June 12, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 09:30
How are global retirement systems faring in the wake of coronavirus?

How are global retirement systems faring in the wake of coronavirus?

A new paper is evaluating how global retirement systems are faring in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and what reforms will be required to facilitate…

Do institutional investors have to choose between divestment and engagement?

Do institutional investors have to choose between divestment and engagement?

For institutional investors, the debate still rages over whether to divest from a company they find to have problematic practices where environmental, social and governance…

  • By: Staff
  • June 11, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15
How defensive strategies played out for CN Rail pension, ATRF as markets crashed

How defensive strategies played out for CN Rail pension, ATRF as markets crashed

When the coronavirus pushed equity markets off a cliff, Canadian defined benefit pension plans had to mobilize to address a number of concerns. The Canadian…

Will social bonds’ popularity grow with coronavirus recovery?

Will social bonds’ popularity grow with coronavirus recovery?

The City of Toronto has launched a social debenture framework to fund investments in affordable housing, transit and other basic infrastructure, access to essential services…

LAPP reporting $3.4-billion loss in first quarter of 2020

LAPP reporting $3.4-billion loss in first quarter of 2020

The Local Authorities Pension Plan is reporting a $3.4-billion loss in an “exceedingly difficult” first quarter, reducing the size of the fund by 6.5 per cent. The…

  • By: Staff
  • June 5, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 09:30
Caisse, CPPIB building on investment in engineering firm

Caisse, CPPIB building on investment in engineering firm

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are investing in WSP Global Inc., an engineering and design services firm,…

  • By: Staff
  • June 3, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 08:40
IMCO appointing chief strategist, CPPIB adds European senior advisor

IMCO appointing chief strategist, CPPIB adds European senior advisor

The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is appointing Nick Chamie as chief strategist to lead the organization’s asset allocation, currency management and fixed income strategies…

  • By: Staff
  • June 2, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00
Mercer appoints Canadian and U.S. heads of responsible investing

Mercer appoints Canadian and U.S. heads of responsible investing

Mercer is appointing Monika Freyman as Canadian head of responsible investment and David Fanger in the same role for the U.S. In the roles, Freyman…

  • By: Staff
  • May 26, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00
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Pension de-risking and the coronavirus – what now?

It’s hard to believe that just recently, people weren’t cutting their own hair or binge-watching Tiger King. At the beginning of the year, defined benefit…

How can asset managers firm up defences with markets in turmoil?

The value of total global assets under management grew by 15 per cent in 2019, with institutional investors’ assets reaching $52 trillion, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • May 25, 2020 December 6, 2020
  • 10:50
IMCO focusing on liquidity, cost-efficiency amid coronavirus crisis

IMCO focusing on liquidity, cost-efficiency amid coronavirus crisis

The extent of fiscal and monetary intervention in the economy in response to the coronavirus crisis is likely to lead to deficits unlike anything seen before…

Charting a new course at the Air Canada pension plans

In 2009, when Vincent Morin walked through the doors of Air Canada as the vice-president of asset allocation and strategy for its investment division, he…

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Active ownership matters now more than ever amid coronavirus crisis

At a time of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis, active ownership is more important than ever, says Kevin Thomas, chief executive officer of the…

Gender lens investing on the rise among institutional investors

Gender lens investing on the rise among institutional investors

In recent years, investing with a gender lens has become far more popular among institutional investors. “Part of it is awareness and part of it…

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A look at the different paths to ESG integration in DC plans

With environmental, social and governance issues becoming more prominent among investors, it’s important to consider what sustainability means for DC plans. Plan sponsors are facing…

Ontario Teachers’ expanding relationship with Wellington to tackle climate risk

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is expanding its strategic relationship with Wellington Management Co. to better integrate climate science research into its investments. Wellington and…

  • By: Staff
  • May 5, 2020 December 6, 2020
  • 11:26
What are the implications for pension funds coming out of coronavirus crisis?

What are the implications for pension funds coming out of coronavirus crisis?

Last August, I wrote about whether central banks were creating a financial bubble with their coordinated easing programs intended to spur economic growth and/or lift inflation.…

  • May 5, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 08:30
AIMCo calls reports of losses on volatility strategy ‘dramatically’ overstated

AIMCo calls reports of losses on volatility strategy ‘dramatically’ overstated

Recent reports of significant investment losses on the part of the Alberta Investment Management Corp. are overblown, according to chief executive officer Kevin Uebelein. In recent…

  • By: Staff
  • May 4, 2020 November 11, 2020
  • 09:29
What opportunities does the oil glut offer Canadian pension portfolios?

What opportunities does the oil glut offer Canadian pension portfolios?

With crude oil futures contracts crashing through the floor into negative territory at the beginning of the week, what opportunities are opening up for institutional…