April 2024

U.S. corporate pension fund surpluses climb higher in March — 3 reports

U.S. corporate pension fund surpluses continued to climb in March, according to three new reports. Wilshire Advisors estimated the aggregate funding ratio of U.S. corporate plans reached 110.1% as of March 31, an increase of a full percentage point above the 109.1% funding ratio estimated as of Feb. 29. "March's increase in funded status was driven by the continued increase in asset value with most asset classes posting positive monthly performances, highlighted by the FT Wilshire 5000 index, which has now...

Fintechs are booming in Mexico but financial inclusion is lagging

Financial technology firms are eyeing Mexico’s vast market of 130 million individuals, an untapped frontier for both domestic companies and international endeavors. Yet despite strides in fintech, financial inclusion metrics lag behind, highlighting a disconnect between industry progress and broader adoption of financial products in this Latin American economy. To be sure, Mexico’s fintech ecosystem is thriving, boasting nearly 1,000 companies, including 217 foreign entities from over 22 nations. Over the past five years, the domestic sector has demonstrated impressive...

China’s Young People Are Giving Up on Saving for Retirement

China wants young people to put money away for retirement. Tao Swift, an unemployed 30-year-old, is not interested in hearing it. “Retire with a pension?” he asked. “I don’t hold much hope that I can definitely get my hands on it.” Mr. Tao, who lives in the southern city of Chengdu, is not alone in thinking this way. On social media forums and among friends, young people are questioning whether to save for old age. Some are opting out, citing the...

UK: FCA to examine asset management fees, pensions

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority is to launch a market study on asset management to examine charges paid by investors, the regulator said on Tuesday, as it laid out its business plan for the coming year. Other areas of focus include examining whether pension firms are helping consumers make the right choices, following an overhaul announced in 2014 which eased requirements on people to buy annuities as part of their pension. “The business plan is set against the backdrop of the...

Chile. Inconformidad social crece en Chile; sindicatos anuncian paro nacional

De la noche a la mañana, y por distintas razones, el gobierno del presidente chileno Gabriel Boric empieza a sufrir de crecientes movilizaciones sociales, impulsadas incluso por organizaciones sindicales que, teóricamente, debieran ser partidarias del gobierno, según sus propios dirigentes lo señalan. A la compleja situación social en la Región del Biobío, 700 kilómetros al sur de la capital chilena, donde unos 20 mil trabajadores del acero han comenzado a perder sus empleos tras la clausura de la principal usina...

Colombia. Sigue viva la pensional: plenaria del Senado negó las dos ponencias de archivo

Después de que se hundió en la Comisión Séptima la reforma a la salud, la plenaria del Senado avanzó en el segundo debate de la reforma pensional La propuesta del gobierno de Gustavo Petro, que crearía un sistema de cuatro pilares (solidario, semicontributivo, contributivo y voluntario), sobrevivió a la primera legislatura cuando la Comisión Séptima del Senado aprobó en primer debate, a mediados de junio de 2023, sus 94 artículos. Para que el proyecto no se hunda, se debe aprobar...

US. NYC Pensions Reach Deal With RBC to Publish Green-Funding Ratio

New York City retirement plans reached an agreement with Royal Bank of Canada for the lender to disclose how much financing it provides for clean-energy projects relative to fossil fuels. Canada’s largest bank is the third financial giant to agree to begin disclosing the ratio after New York Comptroller Brad Lander and the city’s public-pension boards filed shareholder resolutions with six banks in January. The proposal was set to be voted upon at Toronto-based Royal Bank’s annual meeting next week. “We’re...

UK. The Pensions Regulator unveils fresh 2030 climate targets

UK regulator plans to focus on cutting gas, electricity, business travel, water and waste emissions in short term on course to achieving net zero across its operations and supply chain by 2050 The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has unveiled a suite of fresh climate targets, including a goal to slash its operational greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by the end of the decade compared to 2017/18 levels. The UK regulator, which set out its first climate change strategy three years...

Nigeria. Abia State Government to Introduce Contributory Pension Scheme for Civil Servants

The Abia State Government, under the leadership of Governor Otti, has announced plans to implement a Pension Contributory Scheme for its civil servants. Mr. Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, made this revelation during a press briefing following the State Executive Meeting held at the Government House, Umuahia, on Tuesday. According to Kanu, the state government has made significant progress in preparing for the transition to the new pension scheme. He stated, “The state government has concluded plans to...

México será uno de los más afectados en la crisis global de pensiones

La semana pasada, Larry Fink, el presidente de la mayor gestora de activos del mundo, BlackRock, advirtió que se avecina una inminente “crisis de la jubilación” en Estados Unidos. El directivo aseguró que en la mayor economía del planeta las nuevas generaciones tienen dificultades para ahorrar y planificar adecuadamente su futuro. Larry Fink es una autoridad en la materia, ocupa el cargo de CEO en BlackaRock desde 1988 y su carta anual suele ser uno de los documentos guía para los...