Institutional investors in North America owned US$56 billion worth of exchange-traded fund assets at the end of 2023, a 22 per cent increase year over year, according to a new report by S&P Global. The report, based on financial disclosures from U.S. and Canadian pension funds, endowments and foundations and sovereign wealth funds, found the […] The post ETF assets held by institutional investors reach US$56 billion in 2023: report appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

The recent pressure put on Canadian pensions plans from private managers and governments to re-discover an investment home bias has been met with little enthusiasm, despite special interest by both federal and provincial governments to potentially tap pension fund capital for infrastructure given that current expenditure eats up a large share of the budget. Infrastructure […] The post Expert panel: Cessation of real return bonds increases risk profile for Canadian pension fund model appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

Three-quarters (74 per cent) of U.S. defined contribution pension plan sponsors say they’ll review plan fees throughout 2024, according to a new survey by investment consulting firm Callan. The survey, which polled more than 130 DC plan sponsors, found that half of respondents said they’re likely to move to lower-cost investment vehicles in 2024, up […] The post 74% of U.S. DC pension plan sponsors to conduct plan fee review in 2024: survey appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

Four in 10 (39 per cent) Canadian institutional investors say they have either direct or indirect exposure to cryptocurrency, according to a new survey by KPMG in Canada and the Canadian Association of Alternative Assets and Strategies. The survey, which 31 institutional investors and 34 financial services organizations, found three-quarters (75 per cent) of institutional […] The post Survey finds institutional investors are gaining confidence in cryptocurrency assets appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan posted a median return of 3.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, according to a new report by RBC Investor Services. The report, which tracks performance and asset allocation across Canadian DB plans, credited the positive investment return to the strong performance of equities. Read: Average […] The post Average Canadian DB pension plan returns 3.6% in Q1 2024: reports appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

Environmental, social and governance standards have helped investors generate positive annualized returns, with environmental investments leading the pack globally, according to a new study from Amundi Asset Management. The study reviewed the annualized financial returns of long-short portfolios designed with a broad ESG theme and a more specialized approach in North America, Europe, China, India, […] The post ESG standards helping institutional investors realize positive annualized returns: study appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is selling 2.78 per cent of its stake in India-based supply chain and logistics operator Delhivery Ltd. The total value of the deal is roughly $110 million. Following the transaction, the CPPIB still holds a 3.18 per cent stake in the firm. The transaction also appeared in block deal […] The post CPPIB sells 2.78% stake in India logistics firm appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

The funded ratio of U.S. corporate defined benefit pension plans declined to 98.5 per cent in fiscal 2023 from 99.4 per cent in 2022, according to a new report by Milliman Inc. The report, which reviews the financial disclosures of the 100 largest U.S. public corporate DB plans, found their average return on investments was […] The post Funded ratio of 100 largest U.S. corporate DB pension plans declines to 98.4% in fiscal 2023: report appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

Even though it has been two years since the U.S. Federal Reserve started rapidly hiking interest rates, hedge fund managers aren’t more likely to have a hurdle rate in place now than they were during the zero interest-rate policy era. Yet institutional investors are pushing for change. There’s a strong carry component to many hedge […] The post Expert panel: Have hedge funds budged on hurdle rates? appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

Hundreds of Albertans turned out for a meeting in Edmonton last week to hear officials from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board discuss the state of the national retirement plan, while acknowledging Alberta’s ongoing discussion about leaving it, according to reporting by the Edmonton Journal. The meeting attracted a crowd of about 400 people, during […] The post Public meeting in Edmonton attracts hundreds amid talk of province’s CPP withdrawal appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more