Reports
In-depth report on investing for our pension fund and asset management readers from our award-winning journalists.
Latest reports
Trade and economy weigh on European credit
Despite trade worries and a challenging economic outlook, appetite for European credit remains robust, bolstered by refinancing activity and a supportive ECB stance
Fiduciary management: Race for UK mandates intensifies
UK pension schemes with complex and diverse needs are turning to fiduciary management in growing numbers. Who will be the winners in this increasingly competitive sector?
Ireland country report 2025: Post-election – is auto-enrolment coming?
After successive delays, the country’s new auto-enrolment retirement system is finally set to get off the ground this year
Class actions & investor litigation: Getting the priorities right in pursuit of better corporate behaviour
Greater investor activism and a wave of recent financial scandals has encouraged many European pension funds to become more active.
Generation of change: asset managers grapple with AI on both sides of the P&L
Data highlights from IPE Top 500 Asset Managers 2024: Global asset management AUM: €111.4trn ($120trn) | Year-on-year increase of 8.6% on the 2023 total of €102.6trn | Global institutional assets: €36trn (2023: €35.1trn) | European institutional assets €11.9trn (2023: €11.5trn)
Top 1000 Pension Funds 2024: Pensions back at a sweet spot
Assets for the leading 1000 European pension funds grew by 8.7% year-on-year, reversing last year’s loss of 6.8%. This brings total assets back up to above their previous high water mark of €9.7trn in 2022’s research exercise. This year’s overall net gain in assets of €775bn is the largest since 2021’s increase of €810bn.
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Equities: US equity markets expected to gain from Trump’s victory
As the political dust settles following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections, global equity funds are eagerly eyeing the incoming administration and the opportunities it may offer
Prospects for 2025: Pension investors identify risk scenarios
High equity valuations and a possible return of inflation, caused by geopolitical tensions and US policy, have European pension funds worried
Nordic Region pensions funds report 2024: Finland's funds face call for greater defence investment
Allocating capital to preparedness could boost European competitiveness
ESG: Investors embrace new challenges on 1.5°C climate goal
The world has changed considerably since we first started publishing this annual special report in 2018, not least in that the rise of greenwashing concerns is leading to a phasing-out of terms such as ESG.
Private equity industry starts to show signs of recovery
Private equity has a bounce in its step once again, but it could be years before the industry recovers fully
Spanish country report 2024: Pension funds eye a new rate environment
Buoyed by strong returns, pension funds have been lengthening the duration in their fixed-income portfolios
Switzerland country report 2024: The trouble with Swiss second-pillar pension reform
Attempts to reform occupational pensions continue to fail, risking undermining public trust. But pension funds have already been making their own pragmatic changes
Why emerging market debt deserves more scrutiny
Investors are becoming more sophisticated in how they approach emerging market debt
Index 2.0: Off-the-shelf or custom indices?
Continuing innovation in the index business leads investors to address a fundamental question – should they buy off-the-shelf products or customise their own?
Netherlands country report 2024: Dutch pension funds distribute buffers
The arguments heat up over what to do with excess funds in Dutch pension schemes
Equities: Active investors keep their eye on the prize
As equity markets enter a new phase after the August 2024 sell-off, institutions are sticking to their long-term active equity approaches
Time to understand India
The country has much to offer investors, with impressive GDP growth, an innovative tech industry and soaring consumer demand
French workplace pensions grow as reform controversy recedes
Macron’s controversial pension reforms look likely to survive, at least for now, and despite the political turmoil of the recent elections
Private credit: How banks are joining forces with managers
As the private credit market grows, banks are looking to partner with private credit managers rather than compete with them
Italy Country Report 2024: How local pensions could support the economy
The Italian pension industry and policymakers are discussing ways to channel more pension investment towards the country’s business sector
Europe’s pension policy roundtable: Challenges for the next Commission
The experts weigh in on the future of the European Union’s pensions policy
Equities: a return to passive safe havens
In an effort to counterbalance an uncertain economic outlook and geopolitical tensions, many institutional investors are avoiding active management
Nordic Region Report 2024: Denmark’s government urges pension funds to support defence
Danish schemes embrace defence – as long as ESG criteria and international conventions are adhered to
Fixed income: European high yield stands its ground
Investors flocked to the European junk bond market last year and despite a strong US economy, there is still appetite for European issuers
UK Country Report 2024: Is buyout still the gold standard for pension funds?
Improved funding positions mean more DB schemes are considering run-on rather than off-loading their liabilities
Emerging market equities: investors grapple with peak political risk
As billions of people head to the polls in 2024, how will politics influence flows to emerging market equities?
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