Fixed income – Benefits Canada.com

Debate about pension fund’s divesting due to ESG issues heats up in Oregon

mdunne — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 14:00:18 +0000

Oregon’s state employee retirement fund is coming under increased scrutiny as the U.S. state is facing increased calls for divestment from companies that have environmental, social and governance issues. Oregon residents are increasingly pushing for the state to divest from fossil fuel companies and other controversial investments, but the state treasury is resisting and putting […]

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Top 2021 Money Managers Report: What questions should pension plan sponsors ask in 2022?

bwolfe — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 13:53:15 +0000

In the early days of 2020, no one could have foreseen the social and economic havoc the coronavirus pandemic would wreak on the world. Nearly two years later, as markets and economies continue to recover, Canadian pension plan sponsors are looking to their money managers to help light the way to a brighter financial future. […]

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Domestic equity returns bolstering Canadian DB pension plan solvency: report

Gideon Scanlon — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 14:00:34 +0000

The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan saw improvements on a solvency and accountancy basis in October, according to LifeWorks Inc.’s monthly report. Its monthly report on DB pension indices found the average plan saw its solvency index rise to 111.5 per cent, up from 108.8 per cent at the end of September and a […]

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2021 GIC coverage: How institutional investors can use fixed income amid low yields

bwolfe — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:55:31 +0000

Despite the low-yield environment, fixed income continues to play an important role for institutional investors looking to make their portfolios work harder in a risk-controlled fashion, said Jeffrey Moore, a portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments Inc., during a session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2021 Global Investment Conference. “For the bond market to hurt, there needs […]

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2021 GIC coverage: A look at the Teachers’ Retirement Allowance Fund’s pandemic balancing act

Gideon Scanlon — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:50:30 +0000

As places of economic activity, flood plains have their advantages — just ask the ancient Mesopotamians or the staff of the Winnipeg-based Teachers’ Retirement Allowance Fund. “Those of you who have been to our offices will know we’re right at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. We are right in the flood plain […]

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Expert panel: How could inflation impact DB pension plans?

mdunne — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:00:17 +0000

After being off of Canadians’ radar screens for years, the re-emergence of inflation in recent months is receiving significant attention for many, including pension plan professionals. Some believe the inflationary increases will be transitory because recent price increases are primarily due to short-term disruptions in the Canadian economy caused by the emergence from restrictions due […]

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Institutional investors emphasizing ESG factors amid pandemic, finds survey

bwolfe — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 13:00:42 +0000

While 72 per cent of institutional investors are currently integrating environmental, social and governance factors into their investment strategies, 29 per cent are placing greater emphasis on ESG considerations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by RBC Global Asset Management. The survey, which polled 800 global institutional investors, found […]

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Canadian DB pension plan returns dip, balance sheets stable in September: report

Gideon Scanlon — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:00:25 +0000

The typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan deteriorated on a solvency basis but improved on an accountancy basis in September, according to a new report by LifeWorks Inc. Its monthly report on DB pension indices found the average plan saw its solvency index dip from 109.4 per cent at the end of August to 108.8 […]

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Volatile quarter increasing DB pension liabilities: report

Gideon Scanlon — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 16:30:50 +0000

Increasing yield for long-term government bonds and a flat credit spread through the third quarter of 2021 are driving up defined benefit pension liabilities, according to a new report by Aon. In the third quarter of 2021, long-term Government of Canada bond yields increased by 14 basis points while credit spreads remained largely unchanged. According […]

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Pensions in position to off load risks: expert

Gideon Scanlon — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 17:00:02 +0000

“Plans are, for the first time in a long time, in a position to off-load risk,” says Murray Wright, one of the contributors to LifeWorks Inc.’s monthly report on Canadian pensions. According to Wright, the principal of retirement and financial solutions at LifeWorks, pension chief financial officers are paying particular attention to one number found […]

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