Real Estate: New Opportunities for Institutional Investors

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.

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COAERS finds rich pickings in PE secondaries; warns of retail risk

COAERS finds rich pickings in PE secondaries; warns of retail risk

The exit drought and extended holding periods in private equity is causing mounting pain for many LPs. But for Austin-based COAERS, it is providing ample market to pick up bargains in the secondary market. Sarah Rundell spoke to CIO David Kushner.

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Washington State’s secret sauce

A big contributor to the long-term top decile performance of the Washington State Investment Board has been its high allocation to private markets. But it is not just the high allocation that sets the fund apart from its peers, it’s also the nature of the relationships with its GPs. Amanda White speaks to retiring CIO Gary Bruebaker about the fund's secret sauce.

Denmark’s Sampension favours CLOs

Sampension, the DKK325.6 billion labour-market Danish pension fund has found a rich seam investing in AAA-rated CLOs where it earns a pick-up from traditional fixed income in loans with low default rates. The head of credit Anders Tauber Lassen says the fund feels "quite comfortable taking this type of risk".

Bridgewater and UTIMCO talk China

The $41 billion University of Texas Investment Management has been investing in China since 2007 and its CIO, Britt Harris says it “must be taken seriously”. Presenting at the endowment's board meeting, co-CIO of Bridgewater, Bob Prince, agreed, saying “China is too big to avoid”.

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.

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