The strength of equities was among the factors pushing the transaction volume of Canada’s group annuities market to a record high in 2021, according to experts. According to a recent report by LifeWorks Inc., the total volume of group annuities sold in Canada reached $7.5 billion in 2021, up 70 per cent from the previous […]
Nearly two years after the declaration of the global coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent impact on the worldwide economy, institutional investors are looking to the future with cautious optimism. Amid a recovering economy and rising inflation, pension plan sponsors are taking a long-term investment view and staying the course in the year ahead, while incorporating […]
As a nuclear power provider, Bruce Power’s culture emphasizes the importance of risk-averseness. This is reflected in the company’s efforts to secure the indexed benefits offered to its 6,500 defined benefit pension plan members. “We have many, many checks and balances in place — not just on the operational side, but also when it comes […]
The large majority of institutional investors believe structured credit serves as an attractive alternative to fixed income, according to a new survey by Aeon Investments. The survey, which polled 100 institutional investors in Europe, the U.S. and the U.K., found 87 per cent of pension funds and other institutional investors believe that, in addition to […]
The median Canadian defined benefit pension plan generated returns of 3.8 per cent in the final quarter of 2021, according to a new report by Northern Trust Corp. The strong performance was driven by a rebound in equity markets during a quarter marred by escalating energy prices and uncertainty about central bank policies. Over the year, […]
The percentage of institutional investor assets that are actively managed has dipped by eight per cent since 2019, according to a new study by institutional investment consulting firm Callan. The study, based on data collected from 160 U.S. institutional investors with US$598 billion in assets under management, found 62 per cent of assets held by […]
The average solvency ratio of Canadian defined benefit pension plans in Mercer’s database grew by seven per cent in 2021, according to a new report by the consultancy. The report, which looked at the overall performance of more than 500 Canadian DB plans in 2021, found, at the end of the year, the plans’ average […]
With Benefits Canada‘s companion publication the Canadian Investment Review integrating into BenefitsCanada.com in early 2021, many of the top investment stories of the year include CIR content, alongside stories from the print magazine and other investment trend stories. 2021 Top 100 Pension Funds Report: DB plans shining bright amid pandemic clouds Expert panel: When the […]
As has been the case for the past couple of years, we’re ending 2021 with as many questions as answers. On the surface, economic conditions seem to be improving, at least in Canada. National unemployment dropped to six per cent in November, the economy began to grow again after some coronavirus pandemic restrictions eased and […]
Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of global institutional investors expect interest rates to rise in 2022, according to a new outlook survey by Natixis Investment Managers. Concern about rising interest rates were also reflected in responses to questions about investment decision-making, with 71 per cent of respondents saying they believe the stock market’s current rate […]