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 […]
An article on Saskatchewan’s Public Employees Benefits Agency transition to a not-for-profit corporation was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Saskatchewan’s pension and benefits administrator transitioning to not-for-profit model 2. University Pension Plan’s assets declined 9.1% in 2022, led by public equities 3. Survey […]
The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan fell slightly on a solvency basis and rose on an accounting basis in May, according to a new report by Telus Health. During the month, the solvency of the average DB plan dipped by 0.6 per cent, falling to 101.4 per cent. The balance […]
“If it’s in private equity or an alternative asset allocation, it’s a long-term investment strategy,” said Simon Oak, principal at Lexington Partners, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Global Investment Conference. “Typically, it’s a five-year investment period followed by five years of harvest. Only then can investors measure their returns.” This causes a problem for […]