All articles by Paula Garrido – Page 3
-
Features
Novartis fund makes move from concrete to paper
Pension funds in Switzerland have a long tradition of investing in property, and the team responsible for the Sfr18bn(e12bn) Novartis pension fund is not exception. The Basle-based pension fund has for years had a significant exposure to real estate, around 12% of the total portfolio, through direct holdings in property, ...
-
Features
Actively managed ETFs' headway
Europe’s leader in transactions of exchanged traded funds (ETFs), the XTF – Deutsche Börse’s segment for ETFs – has also been pioneer in introducing actively managed trading funds back in November 2000. More than a year after the introduction of this new type of trading funds, investors are becoming more ...
-
Features
Short-lived solvency
As part of a new fiscal plan, the Spanish government has announced modifications that aim to promote the country’s underdeveloped funded pensions system. The new measures, including fiscal reductions for companies and more flexible limits to contributions for pension plans, have been welcomed in the corporate and financial communities. “The ...
-
Features
Gescartera probe fuels political row
What began as an investigation into the activities of Spanish brokerage company Gescartera has developed into a political crisis for the ruling Partido Popular (PP), and a worldwide search for embezzled funds and ‘black money’ accounts Casualties already include the head off the stock market’s regulatory body and a senior ...
-
Features
Eyes fixed on reserve fund
This year has seen a slowdown in the creation of new pension funds in Portugal. The awaited reform of the social security system, the real key to the future development of the industry, has not yet materialised, and although the debate is still alive, so far no major steps have ...
-
Features
Tax breaks needed to get assets moving
A year ago Spanish companies were working against the clock to meet the government’s deadline for externalising their pension reserves through a pension fund or an insurance contract before the end of the year. The industry, which has been quite since the first pension funds were created at the beginning ...
-
Features
Down to earth approach
The electricity sector in Spain is among the industries that historically have always provided a benefit to complement the social security pension system for their employees, and Unión Eléctrica Fenosa is no exception. Until 1993, the company itself was responsible for looking after this complementary benefit which was provided directly ...
-
Features
Equity lessons to be learned
When we talk about the devastating effects the US terrorist attacks have had in the equity markets, we have to remember that this has been the last chapter of very long market underperformance. Concerns among institutional investors about returns in their equity portfolios did not start after last month’s dramatic ...
-
Features
Going international and going directly
With around SEK 350bn (E36bn) assets under management, Swedish mutual insurance company Alecta, is the largest manager of pensions asset in the Nordic region. Formerly SPP, Alecta’s main core business is the occupational pension ITP, based on an agreement between the confederation of Swedish enterprise and the federation of salaried ...
-
Features
Investment consultants coming into their own
The German market is getting more sophisticated and investment consultants are playing an increasingly important role. Although the size of the consultancy industry is still very small compared to that of other European countries, their presence has become crucial at a time when new developments in legislation and changes in ...
-
Features
It's an open architecture world
The top domestic financial groups still control the investment fund market in Germany, with 90% of the assets and 80% of fund sales channelled through them. According to data from Lipper, the top 10 German fund managers increased their hold on the market during the second quarter of the year ...
-
News
BUPA appoints Mercer after tender process
UK- Global health and care firm BUPA has appointed William M Mercer as pension and benefits consultant to its pension scheme and adviser to the group's overall pension strategy, after a three-month tender process involving 10 consultancy firms.
