April 2021

Asia Is Increasing Its ESG Asset Appetite

Sustainability funds explode onto the global financial scene, and the momentum is not stopping anytime soon. JPMorgan’s head of environmental, social, and governance research Elaine Wu pointed out that sustainability funds doubled in 2020, and the market segment could double again in Asia, CNBC reports. Read also Fintech but make it eco-friendly. “We’ve seen the amount of asset under management dedicated to ESG investing double in the last year,” Wu told CNBC. “We expect that to double again, in Asia, for the coming...

Vanguard launches price war in UK pensions market

Vanguard has launched its financial advice service in the UK, charging an 'all-inclusive' ongoing fee of 0.79 per cent. The headline cost will incorporate annual platform charges of 0.15 per cent, ongoing fund charges of 0.12 per cent, transaction costs and an advice fee of 0.5 per cent. Vanguard said it would not charge an initial, or any other, fee. The service will be targeted at clients with assets of £50,000 or more. The company is to focus on providing restricted advice...

Fintech but make it eco-friendly.

Green finance has long been becoming more and more popular as the race to save our planet is increasingly important. For years now we’ve heard about how we all need to do our bit to slow the rapid pace of global warming and it seems like the message has taken a hold of the fintech world. There’s a growing trend among firms in the sector to operate in a more eco-conscious manner, from planting trees to offering fossil-fuel-free investment options, the...

Ireland. Government in bid to resolve pensions dispute in community employment sector

The Government is set to table new proposals to resolve a long -running dispute over access to pensions for hundreds of community employment scheme supervisors. Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys informed Government politicians that they had agreed on measures to deal with the issue. They told Government TDs and senators on Saturday that the Department of Social Protection would provide details to trade unions in the coming days. The proposal is expected to involve...

Chile. FMI arremete contra el tercer retiro de AFP: “Es seguir deteriorando un factor estructural del sistema de pensiones en Chile cuando no es necesario”

Tanto la rapidez de la vacunación como las "importantes" políticas de apoyo a la población en Chile constituyen, según el Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI), razones para estimar que el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) del país volverá este año a su nivel previo a la pandemia. "Chile sería de acuerdo a nuestros pronósticos la primera economía en América Latina que exhiba un nivel de PIB mayor que el de 2019", planteó el director del Departamento del Hemisferio Occidental del FMI,...

Sindicatos exigen presencia de la OIT en diálogo sobre pensiones en Panamá

Sindicalistas exigieron este miércoles al Gobierno de Panamá que se incluya a la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) en el diálogo nacional que intenta reflotar el sistema de pensiones, como una condición para regresar a la mesa de la que se levantaron el mes pasado. Leer también Panamá. Empresarios afirman que la CSS no necesita más parches, sino una reestructuración urgente "Estamos exigiendo para el retorno a la mesa la presencia de la OIT como asesoría técnica, porque consideramos que es...

Four Ways Covid-19 Has Changed Retirement

The Covid-19 pandemic is triggering a retirement rethink for many Americans. A survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) found that about half of Americans are now more concerned about their retirement security in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and are considering the possibility of working longer. At the same time, the pandemic has triggered a desire to retire earlier among other survey respondents. After all, Covid-19 has reminded everyone that life can be shorter than anticipated. The fallout extends...

India. National Pension System: PFRDA to extend entry age to avail benefits

Senior citizens who have not yet got into the National Pension System (NPS) bandwagon may have some cause for cheer. Pension regulator PFRDA plans to soon extend the maximum entry age for availing NPS benefit to 70 years from the current 65 years, its Chairman Supratim Bandyopadhyay said on Thursday. Read also EU insurance regulator cracks down on unit-linked policy costs Simultaneously, the exit age limit is proposed to be extended from 70 years to 75 years, he said at a...

Coinbase IPO: like it or not, you’re now invested in Bitcoin

Whether you think Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a scam or an economic revolution, you are becoming increasingly exposed to them as financial institutions incorporate them into payments and investments. This year, both Mastercard and Visa have announced plans to allow payments using cryptocurrencies, and the US’s oldest bank, BNY Mellon, has begun accepting cryptocurrencies for its asset management clients. And with the cryptocurrency platform Coinbase selling shares from today via a direct listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange,...

Financial Inclusion in Malaysia Distilling Lessons for Other Countries

By World Bank Group The World Bank Group’s current partnership with Malaysia is focused on knowledge-sharing. It is centered on support for Malaysia’s vision to join the ranks of high-income economies by 2020 through inclusive and sustainable growth, and to share its lessons with developing countries. In March 2016, the World Bank Group officially launched its Global Knowledge and Research Hub in Malaysia. The new Hub is the first of its kind, serving both as a field presence in Malaysia and...