July 2017

03Jul

Japan’s GPIF says allocated 1 trillion yen to ethical investments

Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world's largest pension fund, said on Monday it has allocated 1 trillion yen ($8.9 billion) of funds to socially responsible investments. That represents about 3 percent of its Japanese stocks portfolio and, in the medium term, the fund could increase its investment in companies that have good ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices, the fund said. Market players said the allocation change by the mammoth fund with total assets of 144 trillion yen ($1.3...

July 3, 2017
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03Jul

UK pension consultants prepare for era of no-nonsense

They kept a low profile as banks and other pillars of the finacial services industry were upbraided by regulators. Now the consultants who influence how trillions of pounds of pensions are invested are finally under pressure. Any hopes the industry had of avoiding a full-scale antitrust probe were dashed last week by the City watchdog. Dominated by three big players - Mercer, Aon Hewitt and Willis Towers Watson - consultants had avoided the gaze of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), despite...

July 3, 2017
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June 2017

30Jun

Pacific Alliance reaches tax accord for pension funds

The Pacific Alliance trade group said on Thursday it has reached a tax agreement for pension funds operating in the bloc's four nations in an effort to stimulate investment in infrastructure projects. The alliance, which comprises Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, was formed in April 2011, aimed at improving trade flows and bolstering investment. Pension fund administrators in the four countries have about $450 billion to invest in sectors like highways and other infrastructure projects, Colombian Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas told...

June 30, 2017
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30Jun

Romanian stocks after tax and pension policy shock

The Romanian leu and stocks firmed slightly on Friday, recouping some of their losses from Thursday when the new government was voted in, as the new prime minister denied they were planning to dismantle private pension funds. Romanian markets plunged on Thursday after the ruling Social Democrats announced an unexpected tax overhaul, which was not discussed with business figures beforehand, and the new finance minister said they were planning to dismantle a multi-billion private pension scheme. Hungary and Poland had taken...

June 30, 2017
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30Jun

US. Automation making a big difference in millennials’ retirement plans

Wells Fargo, after examining the 4 million accounts of its 401(k) plan participants, found that its millennial workers are saving more for retirement when automatic enrollment and qualified default investment alternatives, like target-date funds and managed accounts, are made available. In fact, Wells Fargo found that 85% of younger workers stay in the plan when automatically enrolled, according to a study the financial services company release titled “Wells Fargo Driving Plan Health.” Wells Fargo finds that when younger workers are automatically...

June 30, 2017
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29Jun

Regulation, red tape, sometimes necessary as Grenfell and BHS prove in different ways

How often have you heard politicians, especially low-rent Conservative politicians, banging on about red tape? If we just took up our scissors and cut through the lot of it then the British economy would surge off into the stratosphere, leaving those of our (former) EU friends in the dust! We'd be richer and happier as a foggy Asian tiger! Now, if we could just get the flights over there sorted out. Better get Boris Island built in the Thames estuary. With...

June 29, 2017
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29Jun

Canada public pension fund commits up to $1 billion to buy U.S. oil, gas assets

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), the country's biggest public pension fund, plans to invest up to $1 billion to buy oil and gas assets in the United States in a partnership with Encino Energy Ltd. CPPIB said on Wednesday the partnership, Encino Acquisition Partners, would seek non-core assets being sold by global energy majors and would focus on basins already producing oil and gas. Houston-based energy company Encino Energy, which is privately-owned, will operate the assets acquired by the partnership...

June 29, 2017
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29Jun

EU pension’ planned for people who move between countries

A new “EU pension” will be introduced to aid people who move around the continent under proposals from the European commission. The EU-branded product will allow workers hopping from country to country to save seamlessly into one pot. To make the EU pensions more attractive to savers, Brussels will recommend national governments give the pan-European product the most favourable tax treatment they are able to provide. It had been hoped that the tax treatment of pensions could be harmonised as part of...

June 29, 2017
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28Jun

UK. 38% believe workplace pensions are the safest way to save for retirement

More than a third (38%) of respondents aged under 40 years old or aged 40 and over who have not yet retired believe that a workplace pension scheme is the safest way to save for retirement in the period July 2016-December 2016, according to research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Its Early indicator estimates from the wealth and assets survey also found that 68% of respondents who have not yet retired cite an occupational or personal pension as...

June 28, 2017
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28Jun

Nigeria. IEI-Anchor Pension Managers wins PFA of the year award

IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited has won the Businesstoday Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) of the year award 2016. Buisnesstoday is a publishing group with online an magazine presence with capability in Pension and insurance matters. Commenting on the award, Mr. Glory O. Etaduovie, the Mnaging Director/CEO, IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited said “this award might have come as a surprise to many considering our size. However, it signifies the recognition of our activities in the last two years as a PFA especially taking...

June 28, 2017
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