January 2024

Money managers divided over Chinese equities

Global money managers are split as to whether buy signals are flashing for China stocks right now, even as they agree the equity market does look cheap. The gap between Chinese company market capitalizations and the U.S. stock market was $42.5 trillion as of market close Jan. 23, based on Pensions & Investments' calculations using Bloomberg data. Bloomberg reported Jan. 23 that Chinese stocks have lost more than $6.3 trillion in value from a February 2021 peak, vs. a $5.3 trillion...

México. Reforma a pensiones tendría que venir acompañada con reforma fiscal, dicen especialistas

Para el 2024, el gobierno estima que 23% de todo el gasto federal se destinará a pensiones; expertos aseguran que conforme la población envejezca, subirá la presión sobre las finanzas. Para llevar a cabo una reforma al sistema de pensiones como la que pretende el presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador, sería necesaria una reforma fiscal, pero sin crear nuevos impuestos ni aumentar los que ya existen, puesto que el país no lo soportaría, dijeron especialistas. Rolando Silva, vicepresidente del Colegio de...

Chile. Reforma de pensiones: sin humo blanco concluyó cita Gobierno-demócratas para asegurar los votos de los diputados a la idea de legislar

“Una reunión bastante acalorada, muy intensa”. Así definió el diputado Miguel Ángel Calisto (indep-demócrata) el encuentro entre los ministros de Trabajo y Hacienda, Jeannette Jara y Mario Marcel, respectivamente ; y la bancada demócrata-independiente, en que el Ejecutivo buscaba atraer algunos votos adicionales para asegurar la aprobación de la idea de legislar del proyecto de reforma de pensiones, que se vota mañana miércoles en la Sala de la Cámara Baja. La cita se prolongó casi dos horas en las que fue imposible llegar...

Perú. SBS aprueba procedimiento para que entidades estatales se acojan al REPRO-AFP III

La Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), mediante Resolución N° 00197-2024, aprobó normas complementarias y el procedimiento operativo para que las entidades estatales puedan acogerse al REPRO-AFP III y regularicen sus adeudos por aportes previsionales devengados hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2022, en beneficio de los afiliados del Sistema Privado de Pensiones (SPP). Según la norma, publicada en la edición extraordinaria del diario El Peruano, las entidades públicas del gobierno nacional, gobiernos regionales y locales pueden acogerse al REPRO-AFP III hasta el 28...

UK pension funds turn to renewable energy investment

UK pension funds and insurers are keen to increase allocations to renewable energy in the coming years, according to new research. A survey by AlphaReal, a specialist real assets manager, found that a majority of pension funds and insurers planned to increase their allocation to renewable energy in the next year. The survey, which included institutions with a combined £360bn in assets under management, found that 90% of respondents planned to increase their allocation to renewables, with the remaining 10% open...

US. IRS Announces Modest Changes To Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

In response to the current inflationary environment, the Internal Revenue Service announced a modest increase in the maximum contribution limits for 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts for 2024. This year, 401(k) savers can contribute a maximum of $23,000, marking an increase of over 2% from the $22,500 limit set for 2023. The new contribution limit, effective from January 1, 2024, applies to 401(k) plans, along with 403(b) plans, most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees. Despite being less...

Ghana’s Pension Regulator, NPRA, appoints new CEO

President Nana Akufo-Addo has appointed John Kwaning Mbroh as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA). Mr. Mbroh, whose appointment takes effect from 1st February 2024, replaces Mr. Hayford Atta Krufi who proceeds on retirement after holding the position since 2017. Mr. Mbroh is a management member of the NPRA and currently the Director of Standards and Compliance at the Authority for the past six years. He has taken charge of the core mandate under Section 7 of Act 766 of 2008...

U.S. insurers willing to take on more risk in 2024 — survey

U.S. insurers are willing to take on more risk in 2024 with their outsourced investment management, with more than half expecting to allocate at least 20% to private assets in the next two years, according to a new survey from Conning. In Conning's third annual survey conducted with more than 300 insurance executives in November, 62% of respondents said their risk tolerance will increase in 2024 (down from 64% that replied that for 2023) despite concerns about inflation, volatility, fiscal...

The Ins and Outs of Final Salary Pensions

How do you envision your golden years? For many, it means traveling or just relaxing on sun-kissed beaches, free of the daily grind. Financial security, however, is crucial to a truly idyllic retirement. The golden ticket to that blissful state used to be a final salary pension, but unfortunately, it no longer exists. Today, the pension landscape has radically changed. In place of final salary plans, defined contribution plans like 401(k)s have become more common. As of November 2023, 22% of non-retirees...

México. Retiro de recursos en récord histórico durante el 2023

El retiro de recursos de la afore afectará al final de la vida laboral, la pensión que reciban los trabajadores al final de su vida laboral. El ahorro voluntario es una medida para recuperar los recursos. Los trabajadores sin empleo pueden retirar recursos de las admnistradoras. Los retiros por desempleo en las Afores crecieron 12.73% en términos reales durante el 2023 respecto al año pasado y alcanzaron un máximo histórico, esto a pesar de la solidez del mercado laboral mexicano. En...