New economy needs big public sector
Widgets are on the wane and disruption is the new normal, creating a need for a larger public sector with more market power, according to the former US Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers.
CalPERS, La Caisse raise the bar for active managers
CalPERS may have doubled the fees it pays for active management in public equities, but the alpha it generates has quadrupled, says global equity head Simiso Nzima, who has spent three years pruning a roster of nearly 100 managers down to a tightly scored handful. La Caisse's Mario Therrien describes a parallel discipline, using external managers not just for returns but as a "window to the world" on emerging strategies, from quant investing to AI.
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CalSTRS CIO backs long-haul investment
The investment community’s obsession with short-term earnings is detrimental but convincing investors to back the slow, patient money is a tough sell, according to the CIO of one of the largest US pension funds, Chris Ailman, speaking at the annual SASB conference.
Climate disclosure a bumpy road
Implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures is challenging, fortunately some investors are paving the way, a PRI climate conference heard.
Musing towards a more hopeful AI future
Predictions about artificial intelligence are often dire prophecies of humanity inventing the agent of its own demise or obsolescence. But if we consider that human cognitive powers might actually grow in response to the advancement of AI, the potential outcomes become less threatening.
Price war hitting active fees, too
Fee compression is here to stay. Only the few active managers that have met their benchmarks over the past few years have been immune. But make no mistake, asset owners will be reviewing all strategies for their value and fee models will continue to evolve.
Firearms Principles provide a target
A coalition of 13 institutional investors, led by the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, has crafted principles for engaging with entities that manufacture, sell or regulate guns in a way that fosters a responsible civilian gun industry and reduces risk. The guidelines are intentionally flexible so each organisation can apply them in accordance with its own models for engagement.
FIS 2026 at Stanford University