March 2023

Sweden’s Biggest Pension Fund Loses $2 Billion in US Bank Crises

Sweden’s largest pension fund, Alecta, is facing losses of almost $2 billion as a result of a failed investment strategy that made it one of the biggest shareholders in two collapsed US banks and another that is embroiled in the ongoing banking crisis. The scale of the losses has become clearer since the private pension group sold all of its First Republic Bank stake at a loss of 7.5 billion kronor ($728 million), according to Chief Executive Officer Magnus Billing....

UK. Ministers reportedly scrap plan to bring forward rise in UK state pension age

Ministers have reportedly delayed plans to bring forward a rise in the state pension age amid falling life expectancy in the UK. The state pension age, which is currently 66, was due to rise to 68 after 2044 but reports earlier this year suggested ministers had planned to bring the increase forward to between 2037 and 2039. However, the Financial Times has reported ministers have decided to delay making a decision until after the next general election because of fears about...

U.S. General Accountability Office probing collapse of St. Clare’s pension fund

The U.S. Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, is probing the alleged mismanagement of a depleted pension fund that wiped out retirement plans for more than 1,100 former employees of the now-closed St. Clare's Hospital in Schenectady. State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara disclosed the federal investigation on Wednesday and said he learned of it this week during a meeting with staff members with the House Committee on Education and Workforce. They had met "to discuss potential federal solutions regarding...

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,”...