Browsing Posts of Author
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November, 2020
Social bonds – the darlings of the post-pandemic world?
Simon Bond, Director, Responsible Investment Portfolio Management, Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Simon Bond of Columbia Threadneedle Investments looks at the reasons for integrating responsible investment into local authority portfolios The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a multitude of changes to our lives. The disruption it has had on ...
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October, 2020
Second quarter dividends plummet
Global dividends fell by more than a fifth during the second quarter as companies sought to bolster their cash reserves in the wake of the pandemic. Total payouts fell by $108.1 billion to $382.2 billion, the lowest second-quarter total since 2012, according to Janus Henderson’s Global Dividend Index. The decline was the worst quarterly drop since the ...
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October, 2020
Government unveils climate risk disclosure proposals for schemes
The UK’s largest pension schemes will be legally required to assess and report on climate change-related risks within their investment portfolios, under government proposals. Under the consultation, trustees of schemes with £5 billion or more in assets would be mandated to report on their climate risk management and accompanying metrics and targets in ...
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October, 2020
ESG risk mitigation rises up agenda
European pensions funds’ awareness and desire for action on climate change-related investment risk has surged, according to new research. More than half of schemes are now actively considering the impact of climate risks in their investment allocations, according to Mercer’s latest European Asset allocation insights survey, compared to just 14% in ...
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October, 2020
The role of bonds in a new era of low yields
Scott Mather, CIO US Core Strategies, PIMCO. Anmol Sinha, Fixed Income Strategist, PIMCO. Scott Mather and Anmol Sinha from PIMCO discuss the resiliency and diversification potential that remains critical in a world with meaningful uncertainty ahead August 2020 was a month for the record books, just a few months removed from quite possibly the ...
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October, 2020
Border to Coast secures £1.4 billion for infra investment
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership has secured £1.4 billion of commitments to infrastructure investments, providing exposure to the pool’s targeted investment themes, which include energy transition and emerging markets. The £46 billion pool has deployed £675 million of infrastructure investments from its first offering across eight funds ...
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October, 2020
Infrastructure’s allure shines post-pandemic
Emma Powell, LAPF Investments. Emma Powell looks at the benefits of solid returns and diversification offered to pension schemes by investment in infrastructure It is too early to tell whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge to unleash a wave of measures that will enable the UK to “build, build, build” its way out of a coronavirus-induced ...
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October, 2020
Digital infrastructure from a sustainability perspective
Benjamin Kelly, Senior Analyst, Global Research, Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Antonio Botija, Head of Origin and Investments, Infrastructure Investments, Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Benjamin Kelly and Antonio Botija of Columbia Threadneedle Investments discuss the benefits of investment in sustainable digital infrastructure, demand for ...
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October, 2020
Inflation switch could cost schemes £80 billion
Government plans to align the Retail Price Index (RPI) with the Consumer Price Index (CPIH) could see pension schemes up to £80 billion worse off, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has warned. The UK Statistics Authority and the Treasury unveiled plans to align the inflation measures under a joint consultation in March. Following the ...
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October, 2020
DB transfer values remain elevated
Defined benefit transfer values rose to a record high in July as Gilt yields continued to fall, whilst the number of members taking a transfer continued at pre-lockdown levels. XPS Pensions Group’s Transfer Value Index reached a record high of £261,500 on 30 July, before falling back to end the month at £260,700, up from £259,700 at the end of ...
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