Looking back at the first half of 2019, bond and equity markets seem to be telling opposing stories, according to T.Rowe Price’s mid-year market outlook. Strong gains in equity markets in the U.S. and certain emerging regions would appear to suggest a renewed confidence in earnings for the year to come, the report said. Meanwhile, […]
Benefits Canada is extending the deadline for entering the 2019 Workplace Benefits Awards to Monday, July 15. The annual awards, which will be held in Toronto on Oct. 17, recognize employers and plan sponsors that are leading the industry in their approaches to supporting the mental, physical and financial well-being of their employees. Enter the 2019 Workplace […]
Employers that provide financial wellness programs alongside traditional health and wellness offerings are likely to reap the benefits of a healthier workforce, according to new research by Prudential Financial Inc. The research surveyed 2,000 American employees who work at organizations that offer wellness benefits, such as gym memberships, fitness and diet advice and smoking cessation […]
Oxford Properties Group, the global real estate arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System, released its initial designs for the planned Union Park development in downtown Toronto. The four acre site, located just north of the city’s CN Tower, is set to become a 4.3 million square foot mixed-use space. The project, once completed, […]
A thick fog is clouding institutional investors’ efforts to gain clarity on the global market outlook, but certain key themes are peeking through, according to Manulife Investment Management’s mid-year report. Geopolitical unrest continues to be a cause for concern, the report noted. The escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and China could point to a […]
Claims involving mental-health conditions represented 52 per cent of disability insurance claims approved for federal public service employees in 2018, according to a new data from the National Joint Council’s Disability Insurance Plan Board of Management. While mental-health claims have comprised the highest portion of approved disability claims in the past, this is the first time the percentage […]
Almost half (44 per cent) of plan members said they’ve had a benefits claim denied, according to the 2019 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. Among this group, 20 per cent have had a dental claim denied, followed by a prescription drug claim (15 per cent) and a claim for a paramedical service (13 per cent). More […]
While trade risk continues to plague global economies, India and China are expected to be major emerging market growth drivers, according to State Street Global Advisors’ mid-year global outlook report. If trade relations between the the U.S. and China improve, it could lead to a recovery in emerging markets overall, the report said. Both sides […]
As Canadian employers focus on business growth over the next two years, they’re prioritizing spending on employees, including skills training (47 per cent) and satisfaction and well-being (42 per cent), according to a new global survey on the future of work by HSBC Bank. The report, which surveyed more than 2,500 companies in 14 countries […]
More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of Canadian pre-retirees said they expect they’ll be working in retirement, according to Fidelity Investments Canada’s annual retirement survey. The survey, which polled nearly 2,000 Canadians aged 45 and older, also found 46 per cent said they expect to carry debt into their retirement. And a majority (87 per […]