Report
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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
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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October, 2020
LPP commits £150 million to private rented housing
Local Pensions Partnership has committed £150 million into the private rented housing sector alongside institutional investors including Allianz. The pension pool made the allocation to residential investment vehicle DOOR, which is co-sponsored by Oxford Properties and DV4, which alongside APG Asset Management and Qatari Diar as separate shareholders, ...
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October, 2020
DB schemes should guard against post-pandemic inertia
Three-quarters of defined benefit schemes said that they have taken no material action to change their investment strategy or journey plans in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to research by LCP. While for some, this may be reflective of their robust planning, inertia may be damaging for others, the consultancy said. While around 40% of those ...
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October, 2020
“Net zero” investment blueprint launched
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) has launched a consultation on a blueprint to enable asset owners and managers to work towards becoming “net zero” investors in line with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The framework was developed with over 70 global investors, representing more than $16 trillion in assets, ...
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October, 2020
Brunel searches for corporate bond managers
Brunel Pension Partnership has launched a search for managers for its £1.2 billion Sterling Corporate Bond sub-fund, which is due to launch during the first quarter of next year. The portfolio will invest primarily in sterling-denominated bonds, as defined by inclusion in the benchmark, the iBoxx Sterling Non-Gilt All-Maturities Bond index. The fund is ...
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October, 2020
Investors call for Gulf action to protect workers
Major investors including Schroders and Aviva Investors have banded together to urge companies with operations in Gulf nations to protect migrant workers. The group of 38 investors, with over $3 trillion in assets and led by CCLA, have written to 54 companies to request details about their approach to safeguarding the rights of workers. It follows ...
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