The outperformance of APAC equities in 2025 has reignited interest among asset owners in allocating towards the region, but Franklin Templeton's investment strategist Christy Tan argues the investment case for APAC has shifted from a tactical to a structural buy. She unpacks the reasoning in conversation with Top1000funds.com Asia Pacific correspondent Darcy Song.
The largest pension fund in the United States, the $469 billion CalPERS, is in the middle of an asset liability modelling exercise to set a new asset allocation by June 2022. Chief executive Marcie Frost says it’s the most significant decision the board makes with regard to the investment portfolio and that achieving a return target of 6.8 per will require “pushing everyone’s risk appetite”.
APG, the biggest pension provider in Europe, is positioning itself as a digital pioneer with investment in the large-scale use of data, workflow automation and digital analytical platforms. A leader in funds management, most notably sustainability, it is once again a frontrunner by embracing technology.
The CFA Institute’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Code could result in a fundamental review of practices in some asset owners and managers according to Sarah Maynard, global head of external inclusion and diversity strategies and programs at the institute.
Greenwashing is pervasive and it's no mystery why, according to Professor Stephen Kotkin, who says governments continue to sign on to mandates they cannot meet, and investors pledge commitments they cannot redeem, creating a lucrative industry in greenwashing.
ADIA is increasing its focus on renewables and digital infrastructure as its infrastructure investments mature and a more sector-led strategy is introduced into the planning process according to Karim Mourad, global head of infrastructure at ADIA.
Indiana PRS’ five-year asset liability study has resulted in a newly approved target rate of return that CIO Scott Davis dubs one of the most realistic in the country, and a radically different asset allocation. Next on the agenda is a research project examining the fund’s sources of alpha which could have big implications for how it works with managers.
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