Following years of steady, globally synchronized growth, volatility is back. In the final weeks of 2018, North American stock markets were especially hectic, posting losses in December to round out a relatively challenging year. Virtually every asset class, with the notable exception of commodities, has done well over the past decade, says Bert Clark, president […]
In a world of volatility, with markets driven by trade wars, Trump tweets and talk of a potential recession on its way, Scotiabank vice-president and deputy chief economist is shining a light of optimism. “A slight slowing in growth is a very distinct thing from a recession,” said Brett House, speaking at the 2018 Defined […]
Emerging market equities are expected to show the heftiest returns in 2019, underpinned by a stronger economic background, said William Yun, executive vice-president at Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions, at an event in Toronto on Tuesday. While the asset class is still muted compared to returns 20 years ago, the investment firm is working with the forward-looking outlook that emerging market […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, along with the Republic of Colombia and infrastructure financier Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional, is launching an infrastructure co-investment platform. “We are very pleased to invest in Colombia with the private capital fund created by the FDN and pension fund administrators,” said Michael Sabia, president and chief executive officer of the […]
The number of indexes at an investor’s fingertips grew by 12 per cent (or 438,000) in 2018, rising to 3.72 million distinct indexes globally as of June 30, 2018, according to a new report by the Index Industry Association. The association, which began tracking the world’s indexes in 2017, found fixed income was a popular theme during the […]
Will the environment of rising rates continue? And if so, over what period? And where can long-term investors find opportunities? Canadian Investment Review asked Robert Spector, fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management for his views. Spector says he thinks there will be further monetary tightening, which will have implications for short-term interest rates, […]
For the first time since the Financial Services Commission of Ontario began monitoring defined benefit pension solvency in 2009, the province’s DB plans posted a median solvency ratio above 100 per cent in the third quarter of 2018. As of Sept. 30, the solvency ratio reached 101 per cent, up from 97 per cent the previous quarter. […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Quebec’s real estate investment arm, together with Prologis Inc., is launching a joint real estate venture in Brazil. The Prologis Brazil logistics venture will aim to develop and operate Brazilian logistics spaces in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, acquiring an initial portfolio of 641,030 square metres of operating properties along with more […]
A contentious election in Brazil that’s held the attention of the global investing community came to a conclusion on Oct. 28, 2018, with far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro becoming the country’s president-elect. Canadian pensions have made some hefty allocations to the region of late. In the second half of 2018, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired […]
Canadian defined benefit pension plans saw a median return of 0.42 per cent in the third quarter of 2018, according to BNY Mellon Asset Servicing’s universe of 81 corporate, public and university plans. While not as robust as the previous quarters, the gains mark the tenth straight positive quarter, with the universe posting a one-year median return […]