PGGM looks to pare down asset classes
Examining the complexity of individual asset classes, and their associated risks in combination, has been a major project for PGGM. Amanda White spoke to managing director investment strategy, Jaap van Dam.
France’s SWF looks for manager on forex and risk
Fonds De Reserve Pour Les Retraites, the €35.7 billion ($49 billion) French sovereign wealth fund, is looking for an overlay manager who will be charged with advising and informing the fund on foreign exchange risk and implementation of the risk exposure.
CalPERS rehires external FI managers despite preference for insourcing
CalPERS’ investment staff, and its consultant Wilshire, are recommending the board re-hire the fund’s external fixed-income managers which represent 9 per cent of the $50 billion fixed-income portfolio, despite the long-term strategy of a preference for insourcing.
Coming out for gay and lesbian themes
With the return to favour of top-down equities management and renewed focus by pension funds on their asset allocation and beta exposures, there has consequently been a resurgence in thematic investment styles and products. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
‘Lazy’ actuaries need to look forward, not back
The answer to underfunding is a closer working relationship between actuaries and investment professionals in forecasting investment returns and setting lower discount rates, according to Karen Harris, vice-president in the capital markets research group at Callan Associates, who believes funds cannot rely on investment strategies alone to get them “out of this hole”.
Hybrid pension plans: history, economics, features
As the trend away from defined-benefit pension funds continues around the globe, this paper by Towers Watson examines the plan design of hybrid funds looking at the risks, funding volatility, cost control and lifetime income.
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