All Features articles – Page 333
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Features
Facing realities
One of the most significant changes to have occurred in the last year in Germany was the proposed cut of the interest guarantee offered by some Pensionskassen from 3.25% to 2.75% at the beginning of next year. Many Pensionskassen have struggled to come anywhere close to their interest guarantees and ...
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Features
Holds no fears
Like their UK and Dutch counterparts, Irish pension funds worried about the potential of a proscriptive pan-European Pensions Directive laying down rules where previously the prudent person pension fund management principle had worked well for decades. However, in a speech concerning the practical implications of the directive for Ireland, Anne ...
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Features
Feeling the squeeze
This relatively comfortable world of Swiss pensions with its world renowned three pillar system has been put under the microscope in the last year with Swiss pension scheme funding levels hit dramatically by the continued fall of stock markets. A report in June this year by ASIP, the Association of ...
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Features
Safe in the forest
Forestry investment has attracted increasing attention in recent years from pension fund managers looking for alternatives to the uncertainty and lower returns experienced with the major asset classes. A key feature of Irish forestry investments has been the steady positive real rate of return, with the lowest volatility of any ...
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Features
Shedding light on funds
The fund market information service, FERI FMI is making further strides in its coverage of cross-border funds distribution. The firm already offers a directory, a growing number of in-depth single market reports and various sales analysis tools. Its latest product, FundFile, is the culmination of many months of research and ...
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Features
Waiting game
For three years in a row, Belgian pension funds have started the year with news of disappointing investment returns and discussions regarding the future of the country’s pension industry. Added to this the debate regarding the introduction of the European Pensions Directive hasn’t gone unnoticed, although all agree that the ...
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Features
Taking a shine to gold
A liquid asset with low correlation with equities and fixed income and negative correlation with the dollar should be relatively easy to sell. Yet funds have shown an almost complete aversion to gold. A raft of new investment products and a sustained educational campaign by the World Gold Council (WGC), ...
