Weekly roundup of people news, April 18
FWD adds M&A expert to drive expansion; BlackRock hires China chief; Barclays hires structuring head; State Street appoints international head; BMO Global AM hires alts chief; and more.
World
UK coal pension cost study offers investment lessons
What asset owners pay out matters more than ever in a low-return environment. But calculating that isn't easy, as Coal Pension Trustees' CIO has found from a major project.
Korea’s NPS to boost foreign assets by up to 50%
The world’s third largest pension fund has devised an ambitious global strategy to play catch-up with its five-year investment return target.
Insto roundup: China pension fund to run dry; GIC buying Asean tech
China's main state pension fund could run out of assets by 2035; Malaysia's EPF signs up to UNPRI; Korea's NongHyup posts first ever loss; Singapore's GIC jumps into Vietnam's fintech sector.
Global pension funds join NZ social media lobby group
International pension funds are among those pledging to support the campaign aimed at pressuring social media platforms.
How Adia and Allianz are accessing Indian private debt
The Abu Dhabi sovereign fund and the German insurer have joined a wave of investors entering distressed debt and special situations in India. What’s their approach and rationale?
Insurers wary of BBB credit with downturn seen looming
Fears are rife over the potential impact of widespread downgrades of investment-grade corporate bonds on insurance portfolios.
Asian central banks lead peers in asset risk buildup
Reserve managers have undergone a “revolution” of investment diversification, and their yield hunt is expected to continue, with Asia leading the way.
CPPIB could reinforce Asia push with Beijing office
If Canada’s biggest pension fund were to open a branch in the Chinese capital, it would reflect its ambitions in the country and its pioneering approach to investing in Asia.
Asian property investors capitalise on China retreat
With Chinese investors stepping back, Japanese, Korean and even Southeast Asian and Australian investors look set to step up their overseas real estate investments.
Liquidity concerns rise over insurers’ private debt push
With so much money piling into unlisted debt, attention is now turning towards what might happen when the credit cycle turns, and what investors can do to tackle liquidity challenges.
Insto roundup: BLF picks managers; Pru eyes higher China JV stake
Aussie pension funds to get rated; Japan Post Insurance shifts approach to sustainable investing; CEO of Philippines' SSS resigns; GIC voices concerns about market environment; and more.
China bonds seen attracting higher insto interest
Capital continued flowing into China's onshore bond market last year, despite trade tensions and a depreciating yuan, a survey has found. Such allocations are expected to rise further.
Insurers facing risks in rapid private debt buildup
Some UK insurers are aggressively raising unlisted credit exposure amid growing concerns about liquidity risk and falling returns. Asian peers should take note.
BNY Mellon WM: What to avoid when picking managers
Manager research chief Jasmine Yu highlights the red flags she watches out for during the fund selection process.
Canada’s CDPQ bets on China rental property
International institutional investors are wading into an upcoming segment of the market, encouraged by a business-to-consumer model and the possibility of a publicly traded Reit.
How BNY Mellon Wealth Management picks funds
Jasmine Yu, director of manager research and monitoring at the US firm, explains in detail the various considerations that go behind onboarding a fund on its wealth platform.
Zurich CIOs depart in Hong Kong and UK
Two chief investment officers have left the Swiss insurer – one who ran its Hong Kong and Singapore portfolios and the other who oversaw the UK life assets.
UK coal pension fund to pick first A-share managers
Coal Pension Trustees, which manages £21 billion in assets, is about to select two fund houses to run China onshore equity portfolios, reflecting its rising focus on Asia.
Market Views: Will the appetite for EMs hold up?
Four investment specialists offer their opinions on whether now is a good time to buy into emerging markets, given an uncertain economic outlook and poor equity performance in 2018.
