March 2023

How Investors Can Prepare for a Recession

The likelihood that the U.S. enters a recession has been growing as the Fed continues to fight inflation by raising interest rates. Recessions, significant periods of broad decline in economic activity, are inevitable, but still occur relatively infrequently (the U.S. has only experienced seven recessions in the last 50 years). Compared to typical periods of economic expansion, recessions are also relatively brief, averaging roughly six months to two years in length. However, recessions can cripple household wealth and set investors...

México. Gasto comercial de las afores cayó 40% al cierre de febrero

El gasto comercial de las 10 administradoras de fondos para el retiro (afores), también conocido como costos de afiliación y traspasos, sumó 992 millones de pesos al cierre de febrero, lo que significó una caída de 40.2%, en términos reales, en comparación con el mismo periodo del año pasado, de acuerdo con información de la Comisión Nacional del Sistema del Ahorro para el Retiro (Consar). Lo anterior es consecuencia de dos factores. El primero es la desaparición del agente promotor...

Perú. Asociación de AFP propone reforma de pensiones que incluye a informales e independientes

Tal y como lo anunciaron, la Asociación de AFP (AAFP) presentó ante la Comisión del Trabajo del Congreso de la República una propuesta de reforma del sistema de pensiones que garantice una pensión mínima para todos los peruanos. En ese sentido, se plantean cuentas individuales de capitalización a nombre de cada afiliado, devolución del IGV y capital semilla, así como ampliando el derecho a elegir de los trabajadores sobre quién administra sus ahorros para la jubilación. Planteamiento de la Asociación de...

Bolivia acelera la captación de fondos de pensión, ¿en qué consiste el proceso?

Durante la semana el Gobierno de Bolivia, encabezado por el presidente Luis Arce, aceleró la nacionalización de los fondos de pensiones de ese país. Entre mayo y junio la gestión tomará el control de los fondos y la potestad para administrarlos. “En Bolivia operan dos Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP). Desde que inició la transición hubo dificultades técnicas para el traslado, pero también falencias en la política del Gobierno. Hoy hay un laudo arbitral a favor de BBVA Previsión,...

France’s government survives no-confidence votes as pension reforms move ahead

Parliament adopted a divisive pension bill Monday raising the retirement age in France from 62 to 64, after lawmakers in the lower chamber rejected two no-confidence votes against the government. But the bill pushed through by President Emmanuel Macron without lawmakers' approval still faces a review by the Constitutional Council before it can be signed into law. The council has the power to reject articles within bills but usually approves them. The first no-confidence motion, proposed by a small centrist group...

US. Biden uses first veto to defend rule on ESG investing

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday rejected a Republican proposal to prevent pension fund managers from basing investment decisions on factors like climate change, in the first veto of his presidency. "I just signed this veto because the legislation passed by the Congress would put at risk the retirement savings of individuals across the country," Biden said in a video posted on Twitter. The bill cleared Congress on March 1, when the Senate voted 50-46 to adopt a measure to overturn...

European pensions increase ESG pressure on Asia property funds

Adoption of a real estate benchmark in Asia is increasing as leading European pension funds place reporting at the heart of their emissions reduction efforts. Pressure from investors outside Asia is increasing the quality and range of ESG data reported by Asian property funds, according to the leading global ESG benchmark for real estate. “There is increased pressure from asset owners who require their managers to participate in the annual benchmark, although this pressure mostly comes from non-Asian asset owners,”...

US. Some Public Pension Funds Are Pulling Back on Private Equity

Some U.S. public pension and investment funds are pulling back on private equity after a decade of state and local retirement systems aggressively pursuing the expensive, risky and hard-to-trade asset class. Maryland’s $65 billion retirement system is investing less new money in private equity. At Alaska’s $77 billion state fund, the investment chief wants to cancel a planned ramp-up. And the $615 million pension fund of Mendocino County, Calif., last month opted against introducing private equity to its investment mix. “We...

Pension Tax Limits

By Gov.UK Individual members of registered pension schemes who make annual pension contributions over the standard annual allowance (AA), money purchase annual allowance (MPAA), or tapered annual allowance (tapered AA), and who therefore expect to become subject to an AA charge. Individual members of registered pension schemes who already have or expect to have pension savings exceeding either the standard lifetime allowance (LTA) or their protected LTA, and who therefore expect to become subject to an LTA charge. Scheme administrators of registered pension schemes who will need to...

Pension Funds and Sustainable Investment: Challenges and Opportunities

By P. Brett Hammond, Raimond Maurer, and Olivia S. Mitchell Pension Funds and Sustainable Investment: Challenges and Opportunities responds to rising global interest in environmental, social, governance (ESG), and impact investing to generate positive impact while generating financial return. Contributors explore the pros and cons of pension ESG investments and discuss case studies from the US and around the world. The findings will interest researchers, management/advisory firms, financial advisors, asset owners, and policymakers Read book here