November 2025

Boom of Private Markets in Latin America: What Trends Are We Seeing?

“Latin America’s Private Markets—Particularly in Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Infrastructure—Are Entering a New Phase of Maturity. According to a report by J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Latin America is no longer seen merely as a source of isolated opportunities but as a structurally relevant market. Although capital flows have decreased compared to the peaks of 2021, the resilience of funds and institutional consolidation are strengthening the foundation of the investment ecosystem. The pandemic was a transformative catalyst. During those years,...

U.S. pension giants exposed to risky assets: Fitch

U.S. defined benefit (DB) pension plans are increasingly exposed to private credit and other risky alternative assets that could lead to funding troubles that ultimately strain government finances too, says Fitch Ratings. In a report issued Monday, the rating agency said that in the wake of the global financial crisis, sponsors of public DB pensions took a variety of steps to improve the their plans’ solvency, such as increasing contribution rates, reducing benefits to new employees and adopting more conservative...

UK. Almost two thirds of mid-retirees have not had essential conversations about finances

Research by Aviva, a leading pension provider, and Age UK, the UK’s expert voice on ageing, has found that mid-retirees are navigating retirement without the financial support or guidance they may need as they get older. The report by Aviva and Age UK (published May 2025), Retirement Reality: Managing Money in Mid-Retirement, highlights the challenges faced by mid-retirees navigating the retirement landscape. The research surveyed 1,000 mid-retirees (aged 65-75) who have a private pension, are on a moderate retirement...

South Africa. Govt backtracks: Foreign pension income stays tax-free – for now

National Treasury has halted its plans to start taxing foreign pensions – for now. Chris Axelson, deputy-general of tax and financial policy, announced that Treasury has withdrawn its amendment of the draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB), which would have deleted a section of the Income Tax Act that exempts foreign pensions from being taxed. Since 2001, South African tax residents – South Africans and foreign residents who retire in South Africa – who had worked overseas and receive foreign pensions...

Ireland risks major fiscal challenge from ageing population, finance ministry says

Ireland's national debt could more than double to 148% of gross national income by 2065 and the budget deficit could hit 7.9% without reforms over the next decade to soften the impact of an ageing population, the finance ministry warned on Tuesday. Ireland's old age dependency ratio - those aged over 65 per 100 working-age people - is set to jump to 55.2% by 2065 from 23% in 2022, straining public finances, stagnating the labour force and suppressing economic growth,...

Over half of global pension holdings already exposed to physical risk

Over half (55 per cent) of global pension fund holdings are exposed to significant and active physical risks, research from MSCI and Swiss Re has found, with asset owners urged to take action now to shift from being exposed to being prepared. The survey, which analysed the portfolios of 18 of the world’s largest asset owners, found that by value, this equals 25 per cent of total equity holdings of those surveyed, with small- and mid-cap companies particularly exposed. The report...

US Public Pension Market Bubble Exposure Remains High

Robust market valuations in recent years have supported funding progress for U.S. state and local defined benefit pension plans. However, public pensions remain underfunded and fundamentally exposed to market volatility. A market shock could increase the burden of state and local pension liabilities and drive contributions higher, says Fitch Ratings. Governments with weaker liability metrics and high carrying cost burdens could be most vulnerable to rating pressure. Post-global financial crisis, plan sponsors took various policy actions such as reducing benefits...

Unlocking pension funds for critical infrastructure development in Ghana

Ghana's Infrastructure Crisis and Economic Imperative Ghana's economic trajectory is promising, with steady growth averaging over 5% annually in recent years, driven by sectors like agriculture, services, and mining. Yet, this progress is hampered by a chronic infrastructure deficit that undermines productivity, stifles job creation, and perpetuates inequality. Pothole-filled roads delay goods transport, erratic power supplies disrupt manufacturing, and inadequate water systems expose millions to health risks. According to estimates by the Africa Development Bank, Ghana requires at least $37...

European pension funds back recommendations for more responsible mining sector

A commission of institutional investors, including the Church of England Pension Fund and the Council of Ethics for the Swedish National Pension Funds, has outlined recommendations for a more socially and environmentally responsible mining sector. The recommendations were made by the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030, a multi-stakeholder commission supported by global investors managing or advising USD 18trn of assets. The 10-year vision for the mining industry, published just a week before the start of COP 30, is intended to...

Solving for retirement: All paths lead to more private savings

The biggest challenge and opportunity for superannuation, pension and sovereign wealth funds is the climbing support ratio, particularly in developed economies, according to Michael Davis, head of global retirement strategy at T. Rowe Price. The support ratio, sometimes referred to in less flattering terms as the old-age dependency ratio, has been in rising across every major global economy. For example, in Japan, the support ratio is 51, meaning 100 working adults support 51 retirees. In the 1950s, the ratio was...