Institutional investors are focusing on board diversity and an increased clarity of communication with their portfolio companies, according to a new report by EY. The report, which examined investor activities during the 2019 proxy-voting season, found institutional investor pressure on companies to increase the gender diversity of their boards is beginning to take effect. As well, […]
While there are signals that the global economy is slowing down, it doesn’t appear to be quite at recession levels. “That has major investment implications,” said Alec Young, managing director of global markets research at FTSE Russell, in a webinar on Wednesday. Trade uncertainty is a big part of recent sluggishness in markets, he said. […]
A group of institutional investors representing US$2 trillion in assets under management is calling on the cement industry to do better on their carbon emissions. The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change and investors in Climate Action 100+ called on Europe’s major construction material firms to commit to taking steps to achieve net zero emissions no later […]
The Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan posted a 5.33 per cent return for the 2018/19 fiscal year, with $335 million in total investment income, according to its annual report. Net of investment management fees, the plan’s rate of return was 5.13 per cent. Measured both ways, the returns slightly underperformed the plan’s benchmark rate of […]
What effect do low interest rates really have on how pension funds invest and what are the long-term consequences? When plan sponsors are underfunded, they have a few set options, according to a new paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. For a state-sponsored plan, the choice of whether to take on assets with higher […]
Institutional portfolios have been tilted towards growth assets as they’ve reached for higher returns during the bull market of the last decade. But as the business cycle continues to stretch, it’s a prudent time to consider downside protection measures. Wylie Tollette, executive vice-president and head of client investment solutions for Franklin Templeton’s multi-asset solutions business, […]
Global protectionism appears to be here for the long game. While investors may not want to start playing defence just yet, it might be time to start practicing again. In it’s mid-year outlook, the BlackRock Investment Institute noted risk reduction, including elevating the levels of cash in a portfolio, would be a prudent measure given the […]
Nearly half (46 per cent) of the world’s highest-emitting publicly listed companies aren’t adequately considering climate risk in their operational decision-making, according to a new report. Conducted for the Transition Pathway Initiative by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, the report used FTSE Russell data […]
With the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada and a patchwork of regulations governing its use in various states in the U.S., the sector’s influence is growing, according to new research by MSCI Inc. In total, 50 countries now allow some form of medical cannabis use, while six countries have legalized it recreationally. In terms of public […]
Indian-based infrastructure conglomerate IndInfravit Trust, whose owners include the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the infrastructure investment arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement Plan, is buying nine operational road projects from Sadbhav Infrastructure Project Ltd. The portfolio of roads, which was valued at more that $66 million rupees, or about $1.2 billion, includes seven toll roads […]