While the coronavirus pandemic is in the world’s rearview mirror, institutional investors are continuing to navigate a post-recovery period rife with uncertainty. Indeed, five years after the World Health Organization declared the pandemic on March 11, 2020, world markets are contending with a host of new challenges, including a raging Russia-Ukraine war, a budding tariff […]
In the social media age, it’s easier than ever to lose perspective on events and even institutional investors are susceptible to overreaction amid the avalanche of news and speculation that surrounds the second Trump administration, tensions in the Middle East and shifting market dynamics. But Nick Chamie, chief strategist and senior managing director of total […]
On Dec. 6, 2024, leaders from Canada’s defined benefit pension plan sponsor community, alongside thought leaders and investment experts, came together at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto to shed light on 2024’s challenging economic landscape and make informed predictions about the hurdles and opportunities ahead. Find out what you missed! Canadian economy on high alert for impact […]
Quantitative strategies are proving to be a powerful tool for diversification in fixed income portfolios, offering portfolio managers access to new sources of alpha while enabling efficient decision-making, according to Patrick Duplessis, fixed income portfolio manager at Trans-Canada Capital Inc. Speaking at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2024 Investment Innovation Conference, he described quantitative strategies as rules-based, […]
Despite the fact most geopolitical shocks can cause serious social and emotional damage, they have less of an impact on stock returns than many investors realize, according to Seth Weingram, senior vice-president and director of client advisory at Acadian Asset Management, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2024 Investment Innovation Conference. Indeed, when examining the market’s average […]
The consolidation of firms within the pension and benefits industries could pose a threat because there’s less choice available in terms of service providers, says Susan G. Seller, a pension and benefits lawyer at Bennett Jones LLP. “I think the evolution of the services they offer . . . poses a particular challenge for employers […]
Canadian corporate pension funds reported an average funding ratio of 117 per cent, while public pension funds reported an average of 116 per cent, according to a new report by Coalition Greenwich. The study, based on interviews more than 150 of the largest tax-exempt funds in Canada, found in 2023, these investors reported that, on average, six […]
Significant headwinds in the commercial real estate sector have impacted the number of transactions seen in 2023, leading institutional investors to pursue diversification at home and abroad. The totals for acquisition dispositions of office assets in 2023 were “extremely low” compared to the previous year, says Lewis Gascoigne, an investment consulting principal at Eckler Ltd., […]
As global markets navigate turbulent economic waters, active management is proving once again to be a lifeline for institutional investors to ensure their portfolios ride out the storm. Pension funds are currently operating amid uncertainty and potential risk, says Ruslan Goyenko, an associate professor of finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management. “There are […]
One defined contribution plan sponsor sings the praises of the traditional balanced fund, while another outlines a different option that better matches risk levels according to plan members’ life stages. Rob Jackett, senior director of finance and administration at Canadian Baptist Ministries Balanced funds are still relevant today for employer-sponsored savings plans. It’s important for employers […]