Latest from IPE Magazine – Page 427
-
Country Report
Coping with stress
Life insurers are France’s largest institutional investors. Alain Lemoine assesses how they are responding to the current crisis
-
Special Report
Microfinance reaches crossroads
Not yet significantly hit by the global financial crisis, there are signs that the microfinance sector may be about to enter a period of slower growth, finds Nina Röhrbein
-
FeaturesA horror year for the German fund market
The year 2008 will go down in history as the worst ever for the German fund business. The financial crisis created not only created a catastrophic climate on the financial markets but with it a poor environment for inflows to retail mutual funds and institutional Spezialfonds.
-
Features
Bearish sentiments dominate
Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God ...
-
Opinion Pieces
Physician, heal thyself
Are pension funds victims of the current financial meltdown or are they part of the problem?
-
Opinion Pieces“A long-term average interest rate will improve the solvency position of Dutch funds”
The pension sector is in dire straits. In the Netherlands, a majority of funds show a funding ratio lower than ever, indicating that they cannot fulfil their liabilities in the long term (their funding ratio is below 100%).
-
InterviewsBig in Japan – ready for Europe?
Having been through its own painful credit crunch during the ‘lost decade’ of the 1990s, Japan entered the current global version with government, corporate and household debt at relatively healthy levels.
-
Features
Diary of an Investor: Consultants enter tiger’s lair
We had our yearly get-together last week. All the investment directors of Wasserdicht Pension Funds descended on Amsterdam. Yoshi from Tokyo, Hans from Frankfurt, Jim from Boston, Geert from Jo’Burg and Clive from London.
-
FeaturesCan’t live with them, can’t live without them
Pension funds tend to hire investment consultants for reasons such as their specialist knowledge and ability to provide independent advice. But do they hold up to these expectations?
-
FeaturesThe riot continues
The conquistador Hernando Cortez once said: “We Spaniards know a sickness of the heart only gold can cure.”
-
FeaturesThe big picture
It would be silly to predict the bottom of a deep recession on the basis of a single month’s volatile manufacturing PMI data
-
Special ReportIssues around healthcare
Opinions differ on the reputational issues of companies in sectors like healthcare and mining. Nina Röhrbein asks if investors really need to abstain
-
Special ReportOutperformance claims in doubt
Recent research into the French SRI market finds no evidence of outperformance, says
-
Asset Class ReportsA nuclear winter?
Managers are working out when and how to position their portfolios to benefit from an eventual economic recovery,finds Joseph Mariathasan
-
Special Report
Take a position
The UK buyout market is providing good opportunities for consultants with the right experience. But there is room for more players. Gill Wadsworth reports
-
Special Report
New advice rules
Nina Röhrbein asks consultants how they see their relationship with investors changing to meet the challenges of a new financial environment
-
Special ReportIn the mix
Asset managers hire specialists dedicated to getting closer to them, their forays into multi-management have been the source of interest and controversy. Liam Kennedy assesses the new mix of services in the investment consulting industry
-
Country ReportFunds see risk in a different light
Lessons are being learned from the crisis and painful questions are being asked. Mariska van der Westen examines what they are
-
Country ReportWeathering the storm
Although Dutch pension funds have all seen their funding ratios decline in the wake of the credit crisis, some have managed to limit the damage. Three funds share their strategies with Mariska van der Westen and Leen Preesman
-
Country ReportBoost for new formations
The financial freeze is certain to speed up the trend towards consolidation in the pensions arena as costs soar and companies seek to hand over pension liabilities, finds Mariska van der Westen
