The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan returned negative four per cent in the third quarter of 2023, according to two new reports. The RBC Investor and Treasury Services’ universe, which tracks performance and asset allocation across Canadian DB plans, found the most recent quarterly losses mean the average return has decreased to 1.9 per cent […]
The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate steady at five per cent, but hasn’t ruled out future rate hikes as price pressures remain high. “With clearer signs that monetary policy is moderating spending and relieving price pressures, governing council decided to hold the policy rate at five per cent,” said the Bank of […]
Climate and cybersecurity are the leading risk factors concerning Canadian pension plan administrators, according to a pension lawyer. Susan G. Seller, a pension and benefits lawyer at Bennett Jones LLP, adds third-party arrangements and commercial real estate risks round out the most pressing categories for federally regulated pension plans. “We’re living in a time where […]
Canada’s retirement system ranks No. 12 out of 47 countries but has room for improvement amid a challenging economy and ageing population, according to a new report by Mercer and the CFA Institute. The report analyzed retirement systems based on adequacy, sustainability and integrity. It ranked the Netherlands with the highest score (85.1 out of 100), […]
Canadians could see a regime change in the next federal election if the current housing crisis holds tight, according to Chantal Hébert, political commentator, journalist, columnist and author, during the keynote session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Risk Management Conference. While health care and inflation are major concerns for Canadians, the one issue that keeps coming to the forefront […]
Institutional investors’ strategic approach to interest rates must evolve to properly reflect the risks and opportunities in today’s markets, according to Michael Cook, vice-president of client relations and liability-driven investment client portfolio manager at CIBC Asset Management, during a session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Risk Management Conference. The previous low in interest rates was […]
The underlying conservatism of public real estate investment markets can provide an inflation-proof cushion for institutional investors in uncertain times, said Corrado Russo, managing partner and head of global securities at Hazelview Investments, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Risk Management Conference. Indeed, with debt levels of only 32 per cent, public markets are more conservatively […]
A tight labour market will have to loosen up in order to help reduce inflation rates, said Ilan Kolet, institutional portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Risk Management Conference. In 2022, inflation severely impacted the dynamic between stocks and bonds leading to a painful year, he said. “[Inflation] increases the correlation between […]
The U.S. political roadmap ahead may present new challenges for institutional investors, according to Charles Myers, chairman of Signum Global Advisors, speaking during a session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Risk Management Conference. He expects the upcoming presidential election will be marked by three key issues: women’s reproductive rights, the economy and “the Trump of […]
Supply and demand are outweighing the negative impacts that interest rates are having on real estate in the short term, according to Vikram Rajagopalan, senior managing director at Trez Capital, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Risk Management Conference. Canada and the U.S. are experiencing population booms, he said, noting the Canadian government’s plan to […]