With asset deterioration due to drops in equity markets and a decrease in long-term government bond yields causing an increase in solvency liabilities, pension funds are in a tough position. A Canadian defined benefit solvency funding calculation assumes some plan members will elect to take a commuted-value lump sum, while other members will elect to […]
The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan reported a strong 2019, posting a 17.14 per cent return for the year and hitting a funded status of 119 per cent on a smoothed basis. The fund outperformed its benchmark by 2.08 per cent — or just over $1.65 million — and far surpassed 2018’s return of 2.2 […]
Since stock markets can turn on a dime, long-term institutional investors may find some opportunities amid the current chaos. It’s been a long time since genuine panic hit markets, says Greg Taylor, chief investment officer and portfolio manager at Purpose Investments. “Generally, markets hate uncertainty and, arguably, we’ve never had a more uncertain time than […]
If climate change represents one of the largest systemic risks the global economy has ever faced, dealing with its ramifications is going to move a lot of money. The world’s youth have taken to the streets calling on their governments for massive, co-ordinated policy change, but it hasn’t yet manifested. Any piecemeal regulatory shifts suffer […]
In this time of global pandemic, the coronavirus is shaking up everything, with high market volatility and changing work arrangements. Everyone is worried — not only for their immediate futures, but also for the long term. “It’s pretty hard to watch the market go through the volatility that we’ve seen over the last couple weeks,” […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has completed its purchase of all outstanding common shares of Pattern Energy Group Inc. Pattern is no longer traded on the NASDAQ and will shortly be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange. The CPPIB bought each outstanding share for $26.75 in cash. Read: CPPIB buying U.S.-based renewable energy developer “Pattern Energy has a high-quality operating portfolio of contracted […]
Air Canada’s domestic registered defined pension plans are expected to maintain a “significant pension solvency surplus,” according to a press release. On Monday, the Montreal-headquartered airline withdrew its previously announced first quarter and full year 2020 guidance, as well as its full year 2021 guidance. The ongoing coronavirus crisis means Air Canada “is facing a […]
In a historic move, the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered its target range for the federal funds rate to between zero and 0.25 per cent on Sunday. The Fed is taking the emergency action in a bid to help alleviate the extreme economic disruption caused by the spread of the coronavirus. It said it intends to […]
Canadian employer pension plans saw the market value of their assets increase 1.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2019, up from the previous quarter, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The value of assets was also up 7.3 per cent in comparison to the third quarter of 2018. Bonds saw the highest value gain in the […]
Corporate governance, climate change and human rights in the digital economy are primary focuses for Northwest & Ethical Investments in 2020. The Canadian firm’s annual corporate engagement focus list highlights five key themes and 26 investee companies it intends to engage with throughout the year. It’s planning to engage companies on governance issues including board diversity and board and […]