EU: Pensions and Investment News and Analysis
Latest news and analysis of pensions, asset management, regulation and trends in the European Union from our award-winning journalists.
Norway’s SWF joins ESMA in call for pragmatism in EU corporate sustainability rules
NBIM advocates fewer disclosure metrics and more focus on key data likely to be valuable to users
A flawed EU crypto regulatory framework
The EU will soon have a specific regulatory framework for crypto currencies and markets. Under proposals soon to be adopted, only crypto coins authorised in the EU will be allowed to be offered to investors. But crypto assets and exchanges will have a very light supervisory regime, much less than what is in place for financial instruments and exchanges. This raises the question about the rationale for distinct rules. This question is even more acute in the context of the big decline in the crypto markets over the past weeks.
IIGCC calls for ‘ambitious, speedy’ resolutions on key EU climate files
CEO writes to ministers, leaders ahead of EU Council energy and environment meetings
Investor groups welcome deal being struck on EU CSRD, next stop standards
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ‘essential for coherent implementation’ of EU sustainable finance framework
Diversity, fiduciary ‘impact’ duty and more on EIOPA IORP II review task list
European Commission’s call for advice finally lands in EIOPA’s inbox
PensionsEurope backs ‘high added value’ withholding tax action at EU level
Umbrella association responds to European Commission consultation
Commission grants final central clearing exemption for pension funds
Pension schemes will be expected to clear via EU CCPs, says Mairead McGuinness
Top 500 Asset Managers 2022
The emergence of persistent higher inflation, China’s zero-COVID policy, stress on global supply chains, and Russia’s Ukraine war all suggest that the asset total of this year’s IPE Top 500 Asset Managers Guide represents a high water mark.
Top 120 European Institutional Managers 2022
Total non-group assets managed for all types of European institutional clients – pension funds, insurance companies, corporates, charities and foundations – for the leading 120 managers in this business segment. Total assets are €14.4trn (2021: €12.2trn)
European essentials 2022
IPE’s 2022 asset management guide at a glance
Outlook: Future of hydrocarbons
The OECD remains critically dependent on Russian oil and gas – and finding alternative sources will be very hard
Outlook: Good riddance to negative interest rates
The net effect of setting interest rates below zero is negative, and central banks may be wary of such policies in the future
EU securities watchdog delivers anti-greenwashing supervisory briefing
Briefing described as ‘to-do list’ for national supervisors on how best to deal with greenwashing in asset management
Dutch query EC due diligence proposal pension fund scope, fit
Pensioenfederatie calls for clarification and amendment of Commission’s proposed corporate sustainability due diligence directive proposal
EFRAG flags SFDR PAI links in draft corporate reporting standards
Draft EU corporate sustainability reporting standards out for consultation
Investors grapple with sustainability in short selling strategies
The recent move by the EU to exclude derivatives from sustainable strategies has focused attention on the role of short selling in promoting lower carbon emissions
Seesawing 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.
Robust 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.
EIOPA proposes new pensions info-gathering to close ‘important’ data gaps
Regulator says its capacity to analyse emerging risks is currently limited
EU institutions urged to mandate transition plans in final CSRD
Eurosif, PRI write to EU institutions as they negotiate over the corporate reporting directive
EC follows through with derivatives exclusion in final SFDR RTS
Exposures through derivatives not allowed to be reported as sustainable elements of strategy
EIOPA launches climate risk-focused 2022 pension fund stress test
Stress test also aims to assess the effects of a rise in inflation on retirement income
Credit: EU raises the green bond stakes
The EU is considering making its Green Bond Standard mandatory
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