February 2019

26Feb

Chinese firms led global fintech investments in 2018

Chinese companies accounted for almost half of all fintech investments globally last year, according to a report by consulting firm Accenture. Global investment in financial technology (fintech) companies more than doubled to $55.3 billion in 2018, with China making up $25.5 billion in transactions. «Even with the current volatility in global markets and ongoing macroeconomic concerns, investment in the fintech sector remains strong,» said Richard Lumb, group chief executive for financial services at Accenture. Overall, the number of...

February 26, 2019
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25Feb

Pension Funds Investing In Crypto Is A Big Deal!

Bitcoin is back near $4,000, its highest level since early January. The rally in crypto is across the board as BitcoinCash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero and XRP are all at or near their 30-day highs. I believe that much of the recent strength is the market reacting to multiple stories about public pension funds starting to make investments in cryptocurrencies (or at least make those investments public). For me, the first story that attracted my attention was that...

February 25, 2019
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25Feb

Capitalising on the twin trends of ageing and automation

Both employer and employee must understand the value of upskilling and continuous training, and prioritise these accordingly. Workforces around the world have experienced a number of serious challenges in recent years—from rapid globalisation, to significant business cycle troughs, to fights for gender equality. Two trends, however, are today unprecedented in their scope: widespread societal aging, and the automation of work by intelligent technologies. The confluence of these two trends raises one crucial question: What effect will increased workplace automation...

February 25, 2019
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25Feb

Philippines. Revitalizing retirement, pensions and social security

If we evolve our thinking about social security, pension, retirement and voluntary savings, could we deliver better socio-economic outcomes for the Philippines and better financial well-being for millions of Filipinos? SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY REQUIRES A MATURE CAPITAL MARKET FUELED BY SAVINGS The Philippines has been experiencing a long period of unprecedented growth and prosperity. At the same time, its young population offers a temporary demographic dividend. However, the capital needed for infrastructure to further spur the country’s economic growth is...

February 25, 2019
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22Feb

Cybersecurity risks

Data breaches created some of 2018’s biggest, most immediate scare stories for the general public. Facebook’s revelation in the spring that the personal information of at least 87 million users had been shared was just one of the standout examples. Asia, as it happens, went one better, with January’s disclosure that the personal information of every single one of the 1.1 billion-plus registrants for India’s Aadhaar unique identity number was up for sale. In this kind of environment, who...

February 22, 2019
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22Feb

Crypto Institutional Herd: University Of Michigan Looks To Bolster Blockchain Investment

Mike Novogratz, the chief executive of blockchain startup Galaxy Digital, recently remarked that institutions are “slow to move” when it comes to crypto assets. Yet, this doesn’t seem to be the case. According to an exclusive report from Bloomberg, the University of Michigan’s $12 billion endowment intends to siphon more of its funds into crypto-centric funds in the near future, in spite of the dramatic slump in the Bitcoin price. $12 Billion University Endowment Looks To Double-Down On Blockchain...

February 22, 2019
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22Feb

Pensions manager opens Uganda office

Local pensions manager Enwealth has started operations in Uganda where the firm plans to tap into the underserved small and medium enterprises (SME) sector. Following licensing by the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA), the Kenyan company now joins nine other pension administrators serving the country's population. The firm’s expansion drives comes in the wake of ongoing reform agenda to liberalise the pensions sector in Uganda and broaden the coverage of pension schemes in the neighbouring country. Currently only...

February 22, 2019
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22Feb

Canada: Using benefits, pension programs to maximize CSR policies

Though the term ‘corporate social responsibility’ varies across companies and countries, it’s generally considered to be a form of organizational self-regulation focusing on an employer’s approach to sustainability across a variety of topics, such as environmental efforts, human rights, corporate governance, health and safety and economic development. Unilever’s sustainable living plan sets out ambitious targets for its environmental footprint and social impact, with two pillars focused on the health and well-being of its employees and its customers. “The first...

February 22, 2019
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21Feb

Brazil’s pension reform to save $270bn in 10 years

Read alsoLatam FX firms, Brazilian stocks mount recoveryLatam FX weak, Brazil’s real drops ahead of pension reform plans Stocks in Brazil steadied on Wednesday as market focus remained on the government's proposal for pension reform, which is aimed at helping curb the country's mounting fiscal deficit. Latin American currencies were mixed against a slightly softer dollar with investors waiting for the U.S. Federal Reserve's January policymaking minutes expected later in the day. ...

February 21, 2019
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21Feb

South Africa. Grant for pensioners to increase to at least R1,780 monthly

Pensioners can again look forward to an inflation-linked increase in their social grants this year. The government spending on social grants will increase to R567 billion. The number of beneficiaries who receive social assistance from the state is expected to increase from 17.9 million to 18.6 million over the next three years. Old-age pensions will increase by R85 this year to R1,780 monthly. Pensioners over the age of 75 will receive a monthly pension of R1,800. The foster care...

February 21, 2019
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