All Features articles – Page 57
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Features
German Reforms: A brave new world
Just before Christmas, the only real opposition to the German government’s second-pillar reform draft came from the insurance sector. Not publically, mind you. In a statement, it “welcomed the reform in principle”
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FeaturesESG: Counting carbon
Susanna Rust delves into the realm of emissions measurement in an increasingly carbon-sensitive world
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FeaturesHow we run our money: Coal Pension Trustees
Stefan Dunatov, CIO of Coal Pension Trustees, tells Carlo Svaluto Moreolo about his vision for managing the UK coal industry’s legacy schemes
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Features
Costs really matter
A slow but steady evolution in best practice on cost disclosure and reporting is changing the way pension funds think about the asset management industry as well as the way they structure their internal resources.
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Features
Diary of an Investor: Too much information
Our investment committee members had quite a few questions at the final meeting of 2016. Brexit, Trump, the equities rally, long-bond yields, emerging markets: the trustees kept the topics coming thick and fast
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Features
Fiscal policy? Let the zombies die
The international shift from an emphasis on monetary policy to a focus on fiscal policy is a dangerous diversion. Pumping money into the economy cannot resolve the underlying weaknesses that have long plagued western economies
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Features
Economic Policies: Pendulum swings towards use of fiscal stimulus
There is at least one respect in which President-elect Donald Trump is thoroughly mainstream. His support for a fiscal stimulus is shared by an increasing number of leaders across the western world
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Features
A key element for M&A success
Wolfgang Fickus says mergers and acquisitions can be a riskier strategy than organic growth but buying at the right time increases the potential for value generation
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FeaturesFrom Our Perspective: FCA raises the game
In 2001, the Myners report raised the issue of the investment value chain and how pension funds could improve outcomes through their governance structure. It also highlighted market inefficiencies in areas like peer-group herding and investment consulting
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Features
Focus Group: Let’s squeeze fees
Thirteen of the investors polled for this month’s Focus Group are in favour of asset managers quoting an ‘all-in’ fee. This involves all fees and charges including transaction costs
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Features
LGPS: UK pools seek thumbs-up
After months of hard work, the English and Welsh local government pension scheme pools have received feedback on their plans
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FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator December 2016
With the US election over, the opportunity of interpreting expectations of managers just prior to it is interesting. There were some interesting changes in the most recent period, but by far the most intriguing was the shifting of expectations to stability in equity markets without significant changes elsewhere.
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Features
Pensions Accounting: Prisoners of time
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has concluded its latest agenda consultation exercise and added a research project to address what it calls “Pension Benefits that Depend on an Asset”. Despite the impressive title, the research is unlikely to cause a flurry of activity on pensions.
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Features
Who’s afraid of securitisation?
The 1933 Disney animation The Three Little Pigs featured Fiddler and Fifer, who believed their straw houses were safe from a marauding wolf. The movie popularised the song Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf; as readers will be aware, the pigs’ straw houses were not safe from the wolf, who blew them down.
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Features
Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index: The underestimated impact of ageing
“There is no perfect pension system that can be applied universally,” but the truth of the matter is, some do better than others. In the eighth edition of the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index (MMGPI), Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia retained the top spots.
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Features
Ahead of the Curve: Fintech flies in emerging markets
Fintech is finding a natural home in emerging markets where traditional banks and insurance services are less established. Andrew Ness reports
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Features
India: All to play for
The signs suggest India is poised for dramatic improvements in its economy. But there are challenges around job-creation, education and manufacturing
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Features
Asset Allocation: The big picture
Bond yields have been rising, which is not that surprising given that sharp sell-offs in government markets have been reasonably frequent in the multi-year bull-run
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Features
Interview: Amy Kessler, Prudential Retirement
A novel by a Nobel prizewinner from Portugal is premised on what is perhaps the ultimate nightmare for the global pensions industry. José Saramago’s Intermitências da Morte is based in an unnamed country where, on 1 January, people mysteriously stop dying
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Features
Women in Asset Management: Redressing the balance
Women remain under-represented in asset management despite substantial success in improving their representation in other professions. Brendan Maton examines attempts to redress the balance
