All Features articles – Page 137
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FeaturesRethinking the elephant
Your view on US large caps should be based on whether you think they are an investment decision or a gamble, argues Joseph Mariathasan
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FeaturesBiting the poison apple
Dinko Novoselic explains that, although appealing for decision makers and the public, guaranteed returns have hidden costs
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Features
The packaged approach to diversification
Matthew Craig assesses diversified growth funds, absolute return funds that allocate to a range of asset classes alongside fixed income and equities
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FeaturesFunds keep their heads above the water
Norway’s financial sector has been buffeted but pension funds look to stay afloat, finds George Coats
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FeaturesGreen lights all the way?
Despite Danish banking scares, the local pension funds were unscathed by the financial troubles – at least until earlier this year. Brendan Maton explains why
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FeaturesFour-year marathon to bring back the prize
The Arkitekternas Pensionkassa has until 2012 to convince its newer members that it is a better home for their ITP savings than the big players such as Alecta or Skandia. Managing director Maritha Lindberg tells Brendan Maton how the fund plans to do it
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FeaturesPPM overhaul offers a better choice
Sweden’s PPM system is being overhauled. Mikael Nyman explains the reasons why and outlines the new landscape
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FeaturesDodging the sub-prime bullet
It is 10 years since PIMCO, the fixed income manager based in the US, began operations in Europe as PIMCO Europe. Since then, it has grown from an operation with a fingernail hold on the European market to one with a substantial presence in Europe. PIMCO Europe’s London headquarters, set ...
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Features
Happy Honecker: censorship lives
In the former East Germany, the Honecker regime cunningly blanked-out maps west of Berlin in a bid to foil escapes. This is an approach that the IASB’s pension team appears to have taken literally. An example is Paragraph 50 of the observer notes for the board’s December 2007 discussions: “A ...
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FeaturesKAGs face up to challenge of international competition
Volumes invested in domestically registered Spezialfonds rose again in 2007, even though the consolidation that has resulted in a decline in the number of funds continued – albeit at a slower pace. Managers’ involvement in the Spezialfonds business is changing too, as administration and portfolio management responsibilities have become increasingly separate. KAGs facing international competition have the challenge of developing further innovative fund products and providing more flexible management. Till Entzian presents his annual survey of the market
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FeaturesA changing landscape
Falling solvency levels at insurance companies are making it more attractive for Finnish firms to set up corporate pension funds. Reeta Paakkinen reports
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FeaturesThe shape of things to come
Mn Services is increasing the allocations of emerging market assets in its portfolios. Joseph Mariathasan finds out why
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Features
The crunch continues
Yield curve/duration The credit crunch is now manifesting itself in the form of the massive writedowns by scores of financial institutions. The focus has moved from sub-prime to collateralised debt obligations of asset backed securities (CDOs of ABSs) to asset backed commercial paper (ABCP) as the disease spreads to the ...
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FeaturesFinnish firms keep it cool
Finland’s pension funds remain unfazed by recent market developments although some are reassessing their asset allocation, finds Reeta Paakkinen
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Features
Reforms on test from crisis
The global financial crisis has sparked a review of Finnish pension reforms. Reeta Paakkinen reports
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Features
INVESTMENT DIRECTOR’s DIARY
Revolution at Wasserdicht Pension Funds. The whole investment team is debating the targeting of third-party assets. From Brussels to Vienna and Frankfurt to London, our sharpest minds are congregating in Amsterdam to discuss how we would do this. Jean from Bruxelles began proceedings: “We should ask smaller pension funds to ...
