Newsmakers
New Chairman Named for Australia’s Future Fund
Greg Combet will move from Australia’s Net Zero Economy Agency and take on leadership of the sovereign fund later this year.
News Archive: Jan - 2024
Asset Allocation
HBCUs Seek Opportunities to Bolster Endowments, per PGIM Report
A study by PGIM and the United Negro College Fund suggested that historically Black institutions could pool endowments to access more investment opportunities.
Regulation
Sanctions Experts Tell Congress Chinese Investment Restrictions Should Be More Specific
Sectoral-based sanctions, such as those enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, can be vague and harder for the industry to understand than specific blocks on individuals and companies.
Pensions
Market Rally Raises US Public Pension Funded Levels to 2023’s Highest Point
The stock market rebound in November and December spurred a $349 billion increase in the 100 largest U.S. public plans’ funding, per Milliman.
Corporate Moves
Blackstone Hires Thomas Nides for New Vice Chairman Role
The former Morgan Stanley vice chairman, deputy secretary of state and ambassador to Israel will lead the firm’s client relations.
Opinion
The FX Phoenix has Risen From the Ashes
Foreign exchange—the largest, most liquid financial market globally—has been reinvigorated by two underpinning currency alpha strategies: momentum and carry, per analysis by Aspect Capital.
Research
Research Aiming to Track Inflation Named 2023 Markowitz Award Winner
The award is in honor of Nobel Prize-winning economist Harry Markowitz, who died last June at age 95.
Risk
What if the Economy Has a No-Landing Outcome?
Everyone expects a soft landing, but Ned Davis sketches how that felicitous result might not happen.
Asset Allocation
Private Credit Is Changing Everything, Even Bankruptcy
Restructuring professionals report an uptick in both restructuring activity and private equity sponsors considering turning indebted businesses over to their lenders.
Asset Allocation
Public Equities Drove University Endowment Returns in 2023
Alternative-heavy portfolios floundered last year, according to data tracked by NEPC.
Regulation
Construction Pension Granted $16M by PBGC
The aid will allow the critical status plan to remain solvent through 2051.
Pensions
CDPQ Aims to Save C$100M per Year by Bringing Real Estate Units Into Main Business
The Canadian pension giant is integrating Ivanhoé Cambridge and Otéra Capital, also announcing the April departure of Ivanhoé Cambridge CEO Nathalie Palladitcheff.
Risk
Investors’ Interest Rate Expectations Unrealistic, per NEPC
After many years of low borrowing costs, too many people have the delusion that these will return, NEPC warns.
Regulation
Aon Agrees to $1.5M Settlement With SEC Over Pennsylvania Pension Data
The penalty is related to misleading statements the adviser made to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System.
Newsmakers
Dimensional Fund Advisors Promotes Savina Rizova to New Co-CIO Role
Sharing the position with Co-CEO Gerard O’Reilly, Rizova will continue to be in charge of the firm's research department.