Investors are grappling with a multi-regime change that is manifesting in trade and geopolitical upheaval and a rise in real interest rates. But at a recent meeting, the CalPERS board heard that US equities remain top performers and the dollar, though weaker, is still historically strong and wil remain so.
Ilmarinen, Finland’s €63 billion ($73 billion) pension insurer, is laying the ground to significantly increase its equity allocation ahead of new pension rules in the country. CIO Mikko Mursula is preparing for a sharp increase in volatility of annual returns and the enhanced role and importance of diversifying the portfolio.
The $338 billion Singapore state investor Temasek is contemplating allocating more capital to core-plus infrastructure projects, especially those related to data centres, energy transition and ageing facilities. The fund also spun out a standalone private credit platform called Aranda from its in-house credit team last fiscal year.
Ditching the sole trustee for a five-person board will help bring North Carolina’s pension funds out of enduringly weak performance by encouraging risk taking, says treasurer Brad Briner, whose experience includes managing Mike Bloomberg’s money. Sarah Rundell spoke to the treasurer about the new governance and investment overhaul.
A quest for manager and fund strategy diversification has led the world’s largest pension fund, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, to reach a decade-high allocation to active global stocks. Its active equity portfolio now consists of 103 funds, increasing fivefold compared to 2020 when it only invested in 20.
The $77 billion Japan University Fund is stepping up active strategies and introducing country-specific passive allocations as the young endowment, established only in 2022, builds out the policy portfolio. Co-CIO and the head of global investment department Naoya Sugimoto speaks about JUF’s vision and manager expectations.
Top1000funds.com is the market leading news and analysis site for the world’s largest institutional investors. It focuses on leading the global investment industry to continuous improvement through case studies of best practice in governance and decision making, portfolio construction and efficient portfolio management, fees and costs, and sustainable investing.
The publication pushes the industry to question whether status quo processes and behaviours to tackle risks and opportunities will be sufficient in the future, and actively campaigns for diversity, sustainability, transparency, innovation and better alignment of fees in the investment industry.
Top1000funds.com is read by investment professionals in more than 40 countries.
