All Features articles – Page 312
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Features
Why CTAs can unlock solutions
In Germany at present the dominant way of financing occupational pensions is still represented by so called Pensionsrückstellung (pension provision), through on-balance sheet book reserves. Annual additions to pension provisions are tax deductible, and need not to be asset backed. Both advantages explain why this way of financing has been ...
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Features
Keeping track of users' demands
The world of benchmark indices and index providers has changed significantly over the past few years as investors have required new products and more competitive services. The traditional business of providing pure benchmark indices for asset managers to use as a performance measurement tool has typically ceased to be a ...
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Features
Time to be more discriminating
After having seen a resurgence of many negative shocks in the last three years, investors have rediscovered since mid-2003 two more positive factors. First, the strength of a global upturn driven by buoyant foreign trade, and second, the effectiveness of very accommodative economic policy (although this is at the cost ...
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Features
Promised land draws nearer
State Street says it still has “work to do” on integrating the Global Securities Services business it bought a year ago – but insists the integration was going well. “We still have work to do in Europe, where client conversions are currently underway,” said chairman and chief executive David Spina. ...
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Features
Why networks pack with extra punch
As companies become increasingly global in their outlook, it makes sense to coordinate employee benefits programmes, taking into account custom and practice in each territory and utilising benefit practices such as global pooling and benchmarking. Which is how global consulting networks of actuarial and employee benefits professionals have a role ...
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Features
Waiting for flight to quality
With a rise of 32% in the S&P500 from market lows it is fair to say that investor appetite for US equities has gone up since IPE’s last report on this market. But the overall market return figure disguises wide disparity in performance between sector, style and capitalisation bands. Whereas ...
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Features
How much further to go?
The UK equity market is likely to underperform its main rivals in 2004. The UK economy has weathered the storm relatively well and as such scope for large gains is limited. The UK equity market one of the most expensive equity markets in the world having participated in the rally ...
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Features
Still getting over the surprise
“Everyone was taken by surprise,” is the view from the German asset management association on the decision to reduce restrictions on hedge fund investment that came into force in January. This surprise was because on 6 February, 2002, Hans Eichel, German finance minister, had written in the Financial Times that ...
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Features
The price of integrity
Levels of pay and benefits for members of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) have increased dramatically over the last few years as it became clear that low salaries had their own cost, other than low morale: corruption. As of June last year the basic salary for TDs (members of the Irish ...
