All Special Report articles – Page 18
-
Special ReportESG futures: building from a strong foundation
Environment, social and governance (ESG) criteria have moved to the forefront of fund managers’ decisions, meaning that risk, reward and sustainability are now the three key considerations when investing.
-
Special ReportChina bond ETFs: the path to a new opportunity
Historically, investors outside of China have struggled to access the country’s full range of unique investment opportunities. But this story is changing as policymakers seek to liberalise Chinese stock and bond markets to allow greater access to onshore Chinese investments.
-
Special ReportThe European bond market is modernising
The European bond market is modernising at a rapid pace, and fixed income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are playing a crucial role in driving this progress. ETF liquidity, price transparency and versatility are propelling many of the developments we see in the market today and are supporting a more robust and structured bond ecosystem.
-
Special ReportThe ETFs that could gain from the Biden presidency
US President Joe Biden has set out ambitious spending plans since taking office in January. Investors are looking closely at what this means for markets and monetary policy.
-
Special ReportEnhanced index strategies offer the best of both worlds
Passive investing strategies have been some of the biggest beneficiaries of above-average equity market performance over the past decade: they produced strong returns for investors without needing to take any active risk to generate performance.
-
Special ReportSemi-transparent ETFs: balance and confidence
For now, active semi-transparent or non-transparent exchange-traded funds are likely to remain unique to the North American and Australian investment markets; their European counterparts appear reluctant to take the plunge, although some industry experts believe this will change in time.
-
Special ReportTheme regime: thematic investing and asset allocation
Portfolio construction has come a long way from the early work of Markowitz back in the 1950s. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, investors found more sophisticated quantitative methods to assess risk, expected return and the associated investment opportunities through mathematical machinery such as factor modelling.
-
Special ReportESG outperformance: not about one factor
The recent outperformance of many ESG indices relative to broad market indices is well documented. The resilience of ESG strategies during the COVID-19 crisis has broadened the appreciation and appeal of ESG.
-
Special ReportBonds, boutiques and Bitcoin: ETF trends in 2021
The extreme events of 2020 sent ripples through the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market. Highly volatile markets in the first quarter gave way to a huge rally later in the year, with thematic products in particular reaping the benefits of significant inflows.
-
Special ReportETFs Guide 2021: A story of scale, scope and sophistication
In tandem with continued strong inflows, which you will see illustrated in granular detail in the data supplied by research and consultancy firm ETFGI at the back of this year’s ETF Guide, the scope of ETFs’ role is broadening with the adoption of what one asset manager describes as a ‘whole portfolio’ approach.
-
Special ReportFrom fixed weights to all-weather: rethinking the 60/30/10 portfolio
In the current environment of low interest rates, policy uncertainty, large dispersion of global growth outlooks and gyrating equity markets, asset allocation is one of the foremost considerations for investors. Fixed weight portfolios such as the 60/40 portfolio (ie, 60% equities and 40% fixed income) have been widely used – the main benefits being their conceptual simplicity, ease of implementation and, historically, the diversification benefits across equity and fixed income returns.
-
Special ReportGermany: Top-down transparency
The supervisor BaFin has clarified governance and risk-assesment rules for occupational pensions
-
Special ReportFrance: PER rises as state reform remains uncertain
President Emmanuel Macron conditions pension reform relaunch on COVID recovery
-
Special ReportSpain: First phase of pension reform finally kicks off
Government and social partners agree on a package of measures after a decade of discussion
-
Special ReportEU sustainable finance: Pushing the green envelope
How the industry is reacting to the European Commission’s sustainability proposals – including green taxonomy extension, a social taxonomy and hard targets for asset management to decarbonise
-
Special ReportIceland: Pension reform hits the doldrums
Major review brought to a halt by concerns about insufficient consultation and criticisms of some proposed changes
-
Special ReportNetherlands: What a difference a year can make
Dutch pension funds funding ratios have made dramatic recovery over the past 12 months
-
Special ReportRisk transfer: A story of pent-up demand
Next year’s transaction values could exceed 2019’s record as trustees’ attention turns to future longevity
-
Special ReportIreland: Counting the cost of new rules
Ireland has finally transposed the European Union’s IORP II directive – but there is a long and potentially expensive path ahead to full implementation
-
Special ReportSweden: Occupational pension company route gains popularity
Some pension providers and funds are opting to align with IORP II rules rather than the Solvency II-based regime
