Real estate is evolving fast as increased global investment opportunities emerge. Property prices in key markets have begun a tentative upswing that may offer scope for capital gain. There is also evidence of rental growth in some locations, which has had a positive effect on capital values. However, as the effects of the global financial crisis continue to be felt, investors are demanding greater control over their investments. This paper examines the opportunities and challenges facing institutional investors, as well as favoured strategies in the current market.
Asset Classes
Real Estate: New Opportunities for Institutional Investors
State Street, State Street Sponsored Research
Asset Classes
Nest favours institutional-first managers as retail exodus pressures private credit
Nest, the largest workplace pension in the UK, says that private credit managers who prioritise institutional clients will be more favourably viewed. The £61 billion ($82 billion) fund has awarded a £450 million ($605 million) US direct lending mandate to Crescent Capital this month, citing the manager's institutional-client-first approach as a key attraction.
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OTPP bucks trend, keeps buying bonds
Just as some of the world’s largest pensions funds sell down their fixed income holdings in favour of equities and private assets, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has been buying more in 2019 as it seeks to rebalance the portfolio in the event of an economic downturn.
Threats to equity bond correlation
A full-blown trade war, and changes in monetary policy triggered by a loss of credibility in the Federal Reserve and other global policy institutions, could result in a return of the positive correlation between bonds and stocks, and investors need to be aware of the risk, warned Luis Viceira, George E. Bates Professor in the Finance Unit and Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education at Harvard Business School, at the Fiduciary Investors’ Symposium at Harvard University.
Wisconsin’s data solution
David Villa, CIO of the $110 billion State of Wisconsin Investment Board is worried about the outlook for returns. As a result he’s significantly underweight sovereign bonds in favour of cash. But he’s also positioning the organisation to do better analytics for more complicated portfolios, another result of a low return environment. The fund is working on at least five data and technology projects and has hired a chief technology and operations officer.
Strategic factor investing
Institutional investors should consider factor investing as a strategic decision, according to a new paper from Dirk Broeders at Maastricht University and Kristy Jansen from Tilburg University.
Swiss plump for alternatives
The Swiss pension sector has always been characterised by a balanced investment mix but an important trend is emerging - funds are increasing their allocations to alternatives.
CalPERS benefits from income allocation
CalPERS traded $55 billion in fixed income securites last financial year as it implemented its new internal structure apportioning fixed income assets across three groups: treasuries, spread and high yield. The asset class returned 9.6 per cent for the year.
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