Latest from IPE Magazine – Page 454
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Features
Traded Life Policy Fund index shows sector growth
The newly launched Traded Life Policy Fund index reported a 108.5% growth in the collective size of the funds it monitors in the 12 months to 1 November 2007. The combined assets under management rose to $405.2m (€277m) from $194.35m, or around $17.57m a month. The index tracks the size ...
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Features
Volatility causes flight to non-correlated assets
Recent volatility has caused a flight to non-correlated assets, according to exchange-traded commodity (ETC) provider ETF Securities (ETFS). ETFS said it continued to see sharp growth in ETCs, with its total assets under management growing 32% in January to over $3.3bn (€2.3bn). This demand is a result of investors wanting ...
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Features
New products
Emerging markets ETFs ETF provider iShares has launched two new ETFs on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The iShares JPMorgan $ Emerging Markets Bond fund offers access to US dollar-denominated sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds issued by emerging market countries in ETF form. The iShares S&P Emerging Markets Infrastructure fund is ...
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Features
A false sense of security
Nearly half of the Swedish public is labouring under a misconception about how money in their first pillar pension scheme is invested, according to a recent survey. The Premium Pensions Authority (PPM) runs the DC portion of Sweden’s first pillar provision. How the 2.5% of salary directed into it is ...
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Special ReportOff the record: Bean counters called to account
Few issues have generated so much controversy among Europe’s corporate pension schemes as the application of international accounting standards (IAS). In Switzerland, the introduction of IAS19 has led pension lawyers to re-define Pensionskassen as defined contribution (DC) rather than defined benefit (DB) schemes in an effort to escape its provisions. In the Netherlands, industry-wide schemes have argued that the involvement of a large number of corporate sponsors has made the implementation of IAS19 impossible.
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Features
Key steps in tandem
The coming months will see crucial developments in the areas of bearer securities, Belgium’s new pensions vehicle and the Target2 Securities project, says Heather McKenzie
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FeaturesGaps in the landscape
While the authorities hope the new OPF vehicle will attract foreign pension funds to base themselves in Belgium, the domestic second pillar is not as robust as it should be, George Coats finds
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FeaturesHands off the tiller
Belgium was without a government for the second half of last year. Did anybody notice? George Coats investigates
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Features
Preparing for settlement migration
This year could be a watershed for settlement in Europe. The European Central Bank (ECB) will decide in July whether to procede with the development of its euro-zone settlement system, Target2 Securities (T2S). Meanwhile, international central securities depository (ICSD) Euroclear plans to finish the roll-out of Euronext zone securities (Eses). ...
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Special ReportExtra-financial coverage broadens
Extra-financial issues (EFIs), especially environmental issues, are receiving broader and more sophisticated research coverage, according to the seventh semi-annual Enhanced Analytics Initiative (EAI) evaluation. EAI chairman Peter Scales (pictured above) puts this down to increasing external pressure and the recognition by a growing number of financial institutions of a link ...
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Features
Taking a stake
The typical shareholder does not like underperforming companies. However, where he only sees loss of profits, others see an opportunity.
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FeaturesStrategically speaking: Finles Capital Management
Finles Capital Management, a Dutch investment management boutique based in Utrecht, is unusual for at least two reasons.
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Features
Asset allocation
Equities Investors are more bullish on US and UK equity markets and more bearish on Japan, Asia, and euro-zone equities. Asia experienced the biggest decline in sentiment; with the number of investors predicting a rise in Asian equities falling 10%. Asia had been the one bright spot in terms ...
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Features
Fiduciary roles
Fiduciary management is now established in the Netherlands, but what role do consultants play when a fiduciary is appointed? Pirkko Juntunen investigated
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Features
Looking for alternative advice
Pension funds and other institutional investors usually go to established consultants for advice about traditional investments. But where do they go for advice about alternative investments, and in particular, hedge funds? David White reports
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Special ReportInvestment consultants forum
Liam Kennedy spoke to senior figures from Hewitt, Mercer and Watson Wyatt about the new partnership-based relationships that they are forging with their clients
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FeaturesThe consulting kaleidoscope
Investment consultants, asset managers and investment banks are increasingly operating on each other’s territory. Rachel Fixsen charts the overlapping boundaries in the advice market and canvasses views on how potential conflicts of interest can be managed
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FeaturesMoving further afield
Entering a new market poses challenges. Nina Röhrbein assesses the factors required to make it a success
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Features
The rise of the specialist adviser
Rachel Fixsen charts the emergence of niche consultants and advisers in the pensions advice market
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Features
Trusted adviser retains a key role
While the Singapore government has recognised the need to make changes to the Central Provident Fund system, which is as old as Singapore itself, the current situation is felt to be only a partial solution. Carl Redondo reports
