More comment – Page 13
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Opinion PiecesDelay looms to Netherlands reform process
The Dutch government has vowed to finalise the country’s hotly debated switch to a pension system with defined-contribution variants by 1 January 2023.
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Opinion PiecesIlliquid assets could bring cost burden
Last month the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) closed its consultation on ‘Facilitating investment in illiquid assets’, which sought views on policy proposals and draft regulations designed to improve the accessibility of illiquid assets for defined contribution (DC) pension schemes.
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Opinion PiecesAustralia: Political risk on the agenda for super funds
Australia’s cash-rich super funds allocate more to international equities than to their domestic counterparts. International equities are the largest single allocation.
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Opinion PiecesUS: Fidelity’s retirement account crypto move raises concerns
Even six months ago it looked like crypto investing was not going to become mainstream any time soon in 401(k) plans – and since then Bitcoin has halved in value. But the market’s sentiment and trend are changing very quickly. So much so that Fidelity Investments has now become the first major retirement-plan provider to allow investors to add a Bitcoin account to their 401(k). The move was announced in late April.
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Opinion PiecesFiduciary managers must do better on ESG transparency
What sets one fiduciary manager apart from another? These days, it is increasingly hard to tell between the leaders. As a fiduciary manager myself, this view may seem counterintuitive but it seems to me that this part of the investment world is getting less distinct in its capabilities, resources and even its messaging.
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Global custody for pension schemes – are you paying more than your neighbour?
The landscape for custodians has changed significantly
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Swap spreads at stress levels
Asset swap (ASW) spreads are currently trading at historically high levels as volatility in rates markets has remained high. We believe there is an opportunity for continental European pension funds to enter into Euribor receiver swaps and sell Bunds in their matching portfolio. Indeed, we expect that the peak in ...
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Modelling a longevity shock – A £1bn scheme would need to find £120m
By Howard Kearns, longevity pricing director at Insight Investment
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Opinion PiecesRobust central clearing is critical for millions of Europeans
Derivatives like interest rate swaps are now a central component of risk management best practice. According to a 2018 paper by ISDA and PensionsEurope, the percentage of hedged pension liabilities in Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK ranges from 40-60% of total liabilities.
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Opinion PiecesShareholder action to curb corporate lobbying is urgent
Corporate lobbying has always existed, but only in recent times have investors concerned with sustainability started to monitor the impact of the lobbying activities of their investee companies.
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Opinion PiecesSeesawing rates pivot European pension funding ratios
Many pension funds throughout Europe have had insufficient funding ratios for many years in part due to falling interest rates, even though pension funds’ investment choices and contribution levels also play a role.
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Opinion PiecesAustralia: A new sense of unity over superannuation funds
Australia’s leading political parties appear to have called a truce over often-politicised issues in the superannuation sector in the lead-up to this May’s Federal election.
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Opinion PiecesGuest viewpoint: How can DC schemes build a more sustainable future?
The UK government’s Build Back Better growth plan paves the way for significant investment in infrastructure, which could be attractive for defined contribution schemes. How might they take advantage of opportunities to improve outcomes for savers?
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Opinion PiecesUS: The SEC’s new climate disclosure rule is a watershed
Most investors, asset managers and consultants look like they are in favour.
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Opinion PiecesNotes from the Nordics: Finland on the frontier
Fear and uncertainty are rattling markets, but financial concerns are dwarfed by the human suffering caused by the war in Ukraine. In Finland, people have particular reason to worry due to the country’s long land border with Russia.
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Why the UK Investment Bank must nurture nature
By Gavin Templeton, partner at Pollination
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Post-war Ukraine
Post-war Ukraine offers threats and opportunities. Peter Kraneveld says it will pay to keep an eye on some key factors
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Opinion PiecesThe Ukraine war and what it means for pension funds
A health check for pension funds as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raises questions about diversification and energy
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Opinion PiecesViewpoint: Invasion reactions show pension funds are more than investors
Before the Russian government’s decision to invade Ukraine at the end of February, the exposure of European pension funds to Russian assets was relatively low, and in some cases non-existent. Nevertheless, those funds that did invest in Russia acted quickly to reassess their exposure and divest from Russia entirely when possible, given the treacherous market conditions.
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Opinion PiecesGermany's debate on pension reform edges forward
The war in Ukraine, an unspeakable human tragedy, is forcing governments around Europe to reset international relations and find new partners to secure energy sources. The invasion has strongly tested the intent of the new German government to break with the previous administrations of Angela Merkel.
