U.S. state and municipal pension funds are on track to miss investment targets and are unlikely to see meaningful improvements in their unfunded liabilities or funded ratios in 2023, according to a new report by the Equable Institute. The report, which analyzed trends in benefits, cash flows, contributions, funding and investments at 225 of the […]
The funded position of a typical defined benefit pension plan increased on both a solvency and accounting basis during the month of June, according to the latest pension index from Telus Health. In June, the solvency of the average DB plan rose to 103.2 per cent, up from 101.4 per cent during the month of […]
Canadian institutional investors are optimistic about the prospects of emerging markets bonds, with more than half (52 per cent) saying they’re likely to increase their exposure over the next two years, according to a new survey by Vontobel Asset Management Inc. The survey, which polled more than 200 global institutional investors across Asia-Pacific, Europe and […]
The Bank of Canada raised interest rates again on Wednesday and released new projections that suggest it will take longer to get inflation back to two per cent. The central bank hiked its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, bringing it to five per cent. Forecasters were widely anticipating the central […]
Canadian defined benefit pension plans’ median solvency ratio increased in the second quarter of 2023, according to a new report by Mercer. The report, which looked at the performance of more than 500 Canadian DB plans in its database, found a rise from 116 per cent to 119 per cent during the quarter. Meanwhile, a similar report […]
Canadian annuity prices have an asymmetrical response to changing interest rates, making it more expensive to de-risk defined benefit pension plans shortly after rates rise, according to new research. “In Canada, annuity providers are prompt when it comes to raising prices when interest rates go down and slower when interest rates go up,” says Mark […]
More than four-fifths (84 per cent) of asset managers expect their firms will grow over the next 18 months, according to a new survey by Northern Trust Corp. in partnership with Coalition Greenwich. The survey, which polled based 150 asset managers in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America, found European respondents were most optimistic […]
The British Columbia Investment Management Corp. saw a return of 3.5 per cent and increased its assets under management from $228.6 billion to $233 billion during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. According to the investment organization’s annual results, the $3.9 billion increase reflected investment gains of $6.8 billion and $2.8 million in net […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec isn’t fulfilling its mandate to achieve optimal investment returns within its investment framework, according to a new report by the Centre for Productivity and Prosperity, a public interest group funded by the Quebec government and the Walter J. Somers Foundation. “The CDPQ is performing well enough to […]
Institutional investors expect market volatility, high inflation and rising interest rates to spur portfolio de-risking policies over the next two years, according to a new survey by Aeon Investments. The survey, which polled pension plan sponsors, insurers and asset managers with about US$545 in combined assets under management, found 81 per cent said they expect […]