All Features articles – Page 431
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Features
New law for private schemes
The problems of an ageing population are not confined to large countries, as Malta’s experience shows. Despite a buoyant economy and a well-established social security system, the government is preparing legislation to ease the introduction of private pension schemes, including provision for international retirement plans. The latest available figures show ...
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Features
Property market shows new life
Foreign investors, especially opportunistic US funds, have been eyeing Japan’s property markets for much of the past 10 years, waiting for cheap assets to be offered. But it has been very frustrating for almost all the ‘foreigners’. Patience could soon be rewarded. Although impeded by political inertia, pressure from the ...
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Features
Scepticism still the prevailing mood
A year ago at this time, market watchers in Japan were still hopeful that momentum from the nearly 60% surge in share prices in 1999 would carry over into 2000. The first few months of 2000 saw the TOPIX index covering Tokyo Stock Exchange first-section companies—some 1,450 stocks—hover around the ...
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Features
Have a robust policy
If derivatives are used directly by a pension fund carrying out its own management, the fund should have clear policy guidelines on their use. Similarly, to obtain permission to deal in derivatives for a client, an investment manager should clearly define their policy. This would need to cover such criteria ...
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Features
OPERF's balancing act
Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF) is one of the most aggressive and successful US public pension funds. Its performance speaks for itself: 20.6% annual return for the 12 months ending September 30, 2000; 16% annual return for the five years ending the same date. But its success is also ...
