State Street: Institutional investors turn to less risky markets and assets
A new report by State Street and the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds finds institutional investors are turning to less risky markets and assets. The report analysed the activity of long-term institutional investors with over $43 trillion in AUM
Hedge fund returns down in April
Hedge fund returns are down in April, found the most recent HFM Hedge Fund Performance Report. During the month, hedge fund returns fell 0.4%, bringing the year-to-date figure to -0.6%. April hedge fund returns were down due to challenging economic
Dutch hybrid pension funds want clarity on transition
The text of the new rules for the Netherlands’ pension transition leaves pension funds searching for clarity on the matter of transitioning to the new defined contribution system or, instead, grandfathering accruals. The crux of the situation revolves around the
Unilever, AXA join €1bln regenerative agriculture fund
Unilever, AXA join €1bln regenerative agriculture fund in which they have planned to invest €100 million each. The fund is managed by Tikehau Capital. The companies said they signed a memorandum of understanding to create a new private equity "impact"
Marshall Wace building out a team to focus on blockchain investments
London-based investment firm Marshall Wace is building out a team that invests in private blockchain-related companies, hiring William Benattar for its crossover investment fund, according to people familiar with the matter. Marshall Wace manages about $60 billion, mostly in hedge funds
For the Younger Generation of Allocators, Nothing Is Sacred – Including the Endowment Model
The younger generation of institutional investors isn’t holding anything sacred and is focused on understanding the fundamentals of investing and the value of human capital. “Younger generations, including “Xennials,” a mashup of millennials and Generation X, are reimagining finance”, said
Crypto-Market Panic Subsides With Prices, Tether Stabilizing
On Wednesday, the implosion of the TerraUSD stablecoin kindled wide-spread panic in the crypto space. But 24 hours later, things have calmed down significantly. Terraform Labs halted, restarted and then halted again its Terra blockchain in the wake of the
UK Starts £120 Million Fund to Develop Nuclear Power Technology
The UK government is giving £120 million ($147 million) to a new fund for the development of nuclear power as the country seeks to put atomic energy at the heart of its electricity mix. The Future Nuclear Enabling Fund will
Pension fund survey finds progress but also caution on net zero aims
The majority of pension funds have either embedded or are in the process of embedding climate change goals into their investment portfolios, according to the latest DWS-sponsored survey of global pension funds from CREATE-Research. However, the report says that a
SEI names Ryan Hicke CEO
SEI Investments has named Ryan Hicke as CEO. Hicke was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at the firm and has been at SEI for 24 years. He will also become a member of the firm’s board of
ESGforInvestors launches new free Pollution-Focused Engagement Maximiser tool
ESGforInvestors has recently developed its Pollution-Focused Engagement Maximiser. The tool is the first of its kind and aims to minimise the cost of pollution by looking at the amount by which lowering pollution would boost a firm’s equity valuation and
Pensions Management Institute taps Invesco as Alternative Investment Insight Partner
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has selected Invesco as alternative investment insight partner to share its alternative investments expertise with the industry. The two parties will work together to roll out interviews, webinars, panel discussions, research, and cased studies to
Ostrum Asset Management appoints Frederic Leguay as equity head
Ostrum Asset Management has appointed Frederic Leguay as its new head of equities. He will oversee the equity team in the insurance and ALM solutions department, lead the organisation's equity investment strategy and client relations, and develop the firm’s French
PFZW paid record bonuses to private equity firms
The Dutch pension for Zorg and Welzijn (PFZW) paid record performance bonuses to private equity managers in 2021. During 2021, the performance of private equity funds was exceptional, resulting in the significantly higher than usual pay-outs. PFZW set aside €1.26
NN IP: Green bond market to reach €1.1 trillion in issuances in 2022
According to NN Investment Partners (NN IP), the green, social and sustainable bond market will reach €1.1 trillion in issuances in 2022. The reasons for the figure include investors seeking to fund the energy transition, and corporates and sovereign wealth
UBS AM and Aon climate transition fund seeded at over £700m
UBS AM and Aon have co-developed and launched the climate transition fund, seeded at over £700m from Aon. The UBS Global Equity Climate Transition fund seeks to back companies well placed to transition to a low-carbon economy and have higher
Sylvia Pozezanac new Redington CEO
Sylvia Pozezanac will take the CEO post at Reddington in April. Previously, Pozezanac was president and CEO of Mercer UK for two years. Pozezanac has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, including positions at Willis Towers Watson and
Are tokenised funds the future?
In some parts of the world, including the US, the application of blockchain technology to assets is already in motion while in others it is not, lacking the regulatory environment for the move. The UK is one of them. The
Fundrella launches ESG mapping survey for institutional investors
Fundrella, the circular fund selection and reporting platform used by Nordic professional investors, launched the survey for institutional investors and investors in the wholesale/distribution space. The ESG Policy Survey seeks to map and aggregate investor ESG requirements and preferences to
First Trust launches disruptive tech real estate ETF
The First Trust Alerian Disruptive Technology Real Estate (DTRE) UCITS ETF listed 1 April on the London Stock Exchange and provides investors access to companies creating the physical infrastructure supporting the current push to digital. Specifically, the ETF gives exposure
Will Norway’s $1.3 trillion old fund give up oil?
The tension between Norwegian politicians and the country’s massive oil fund, also known as the Government Pension Fund Global, is coming to a pitch, but it doesn’t look like the world's largest sovereign wealth fund will give up oil. Most