Evolving portfolio construction techniques that include more attention to liquidity management, diversification and resilience are needed in a macro environment that has more complexity and volatility delegates at the Fiduciary Investors Symposium at Stanford University heard. Investors from CalSTRS, CPP Investments and MFS share their approach.
CalSTRS has recognised the unique opportunity presented by the energy transition needs a unique response and its Sustainable Investment and Stewardship Strategies (SISS) portfolio has been specifically positioned to invest in opportunities that fall between private equity and infrastructure asset class buckets.
USS and the University of Exeter have outlined new climate scenarios that focus on short term, real world impacts and are more useful for investors. USS will use them to develop a long-term investment outlook and top-down portfolio construction.
The differentiating characteristics of unlisted and listed real estate diminish over time according to new research by Norges Bank Investment Management, supporting the sovereign wealth funds’ unique combined strategy for real estate that sees both private and listed sit in the same team.
The $315 billion CalSTRS is looking to build a top-down portfolio function to better incorporate liquidity management alongside portfolio construction and to consider how it can better deal with often lumpy cashflows to maximise returns, while continuing to keep a tight rein on risk.
Hanna Hiidenpalo, Elo’s CIO discusses progress around internal management, the impact of Finnish equities on the portfolio, and the fund’s sustainability program which includes a target of carbon-neutral energy use in direct real estate by 2027.
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FIS Stanford 2023