Strategy
Get the latest news on pension fund and investor strategies, plus in-depth analysis of industry successes and tactical U-turns
Latest news
Akademiker overhauls equity strategy behind new market-rate product
Danish labour-market pension scheme dials risk levels both up and down within range of AlfaPension profiles
Inarcassa boosts domestic investments as 2024 returns exceed expectations
The scheme is increasing allocations in private markets and equities as it records returns of more than 7.6% in 2024
The People’s Pension targets £4bn private markets investment
The independent master trust aims to appoint a private markets specialist and to create a research capability, initially investing in infrastructure and real estate
AP2 hires new CIO Anna Hammer to continue portfolio changes
Gothenburg-based buffer fund poaches Länsförsäkringar CIO to fill gap after losing Erik Kleväng Callert to SEB Trygg Liv
Viewpoint: How a DB ‘surplus code’ could support economic growth
David Wrigley, partner at LCP, says supporting the appropriate release of surpluses could provide a shot in the arm to the UK economy
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
AP7 boosts internal management as it reaches quarter-century milestone
Sweden’s DC buffer fund is boosting internal capacity and embarking on a hiring spree as it seeks to adapt to a harsh new investment environment
Dutch doctors fund’s concentrated portfolio a ‘risky strategy’
The risk of missing out on new investment trends is seen as the main drawback of a concentrated portfolio with a buy-and-hold strategy
Danish pension funds split over venture capital opportunities
PensionDanmark is backing early-stage venture capital investments but its peers are shying away from VC
LeapFrog eyes global impact investment opportunities
Impact investing was once a niche concept. “We were seen as the weird people in the corner of the room,” recalls Andy Kuper, the South African founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments
BNY Investments: More than the sum of the parts?
The world’s top asset managers are a diverse bunch. From pure-play managers to investment bank-owned firms and those with an asset servicing heritage, the different flavours also reflect the changing nature of the sector.
Veritas: Finnish pension insurer seeks in-house efficiency
Veritas CIO Laura Wickström talks to Pirkko Juntunen about the challenges and opportunities of running a lean but efficient internal investment team
Endowment funds stick with alternatives despite headwinds
Disappointing returns in the last fiscal year may force US university endowments to rethink their investment strategies, but could this include moving away from the so-called Yale model that focuses on alternative investments?
Mansion House Compact: spotlight on Scottish Widows
Scottish Widows joined the Mansion House Compact in July 2023 as one of the founding signatories committing to allocating at least 5% of its default funds to unlisted equities by 2030
Dutch doctors’ fund focuses on Europe in new equity portfolio
The scheme’s new concentrated portfolio only includes 65 companies
Swedish, European small caps to be next group for premium pension tenders
Swedish agency firms up running order of 2025 procurements plan; extends deadline for active global equity tender currently under way
Dutch doctors fund switches to concentrated equity portfolio
The €10bn fund will only keep about 70 companies in a new buy-and-hold approach
Passive investors: price/market reliance and the due diligence question
Towards the end of October 2024, the High Court in London struck out claims for £335m (€402m) being sought from Barclays for misdemeanours dating back over ten years.
Next year’s Swedish FTN plan includes SEK145bn active IT equities mandates
Fund Selection Agency outlines 2025 procurement plan for four actively managed premium pension fund categories and one index-based
Varma trumpets biggest investment yet with €2.3bn in US climate ETF
Finnish pensions insurer invests in Invesco New-York ETF launch, with fund tailored to its own needs
Swedish, European small caps to be next group for premium pension tenders
Swedish agency firms up running order of 2025 procurements plan; extends deadline for active global equity tender currently under way
Varma invests €500m in made-to-measure Japanese low-emission ETF
Finnish pension firm’s listed chief says Varma will carry on creating more sustainability products
Passive investors: price/market reliance and the due diligence question
Towards the end of October 2024, the High Court in London struck out claims for £335m (€402m) being sought from Barclays for misdemeanours dating back over ten years.
Next year’s Swedish FTN plan includes SEK145bn active IT equities mandates
Fund Selection Agency outlines 2025 procurement plan for four actively managed premium pension fund categories and one index-based
Have factor investing strategies had their day?
Factors have inspired indices, spin-offs and a variety of investment strategies but it has become hard to argue that they will offer investors a persistent future premium
Equities: Active investors keep their eye on the prize
As equity markets enter a new phase after the August 2024 sell-off, institutions are sticking to their long-term active equity approaches
LD picks BankInvest for listed alternatives, citing quant, factor-based approach
Danish pension fund manager “pleasantly surprised” by volume of extremely high quality offers received
UK investment industry rules out LDI Crisis 2.0 as bond yields soar
UK 10-year Gilt yield rose to 4.93% today following increased borrowing costs from government
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
Pension funds should not be treated as NBFIs, PensionsEurope tells EC
Industry association responds to consultation that will inform policy planning in the Commission’s new political mandate
Case study: Caja de Ingenieros Gestion - The rise of smart beta
The Spanish pension provider Caja de Ingenieros Gestion serves more than 215,000 members, predominantly from the Spanish engineering sector, using an investment style based on independent analysis, with a bottom-up approach.
Smart beta pioneer reignites debate on factor timing
Research Affiliates founder Rob Arnott finds ‘most factors look very cheap’ in a new paper highlighting the attractiveness of many equity factor strategies
Viewpoint: Alternative risk premia strategies stand tall amid turmoil
While bond and equity markets have been pummeled in 2022, Alternative Risk Premia strategies have at last been able to demonstrate their diversification prowess. Will this year’s performance restore investor confidence in these strategies after the painful results of 2020?
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