Venture Capital Firms in a Pickle
Cambridge Associates issued a report showing VC 10-year returns -- considered the most
important measurement of the industry -- were negative 3.7% for
the period ending March 31.
Asset Allocation
Financial Regs: A Top Concern for Institutional Investors
Preliminary
results of a survey by Capital Market Risk Advisors show US respondents
ranked “government changing the rules” as their chief concern for the
year ahead.
Pension Schemes Face Difficulties Managing Longevity Risk
MetLife Assurance's survey showed pension fund trustees and
sponsors are struggling to effectively manage longevity risk, which
ranked second only to the measurement of technical provisions and
liabilities in importance for respondents.
Survey Reveals UK Asset Managers Raise Concerns Over Investor Activism
UK asset managers indicate
growing concern about the UK as a place to do business and call for
regulators to respond to the financial crisis.
OECD Urges Countercyclical Funding Regs to Thwart DB Closures
The organization is putting pressure on governments and policymakers
to try to avoid relying on current market values when determining
contributions and to allow "appropriate levels of over-funding in good
economic times," among other recommendations.
From ai5000 Magazine: A Profile of No One
Europeans (effete liberals!) love it. Public pensions and foundations (goody-two-shoes!) like it. Yet, to American corporate defined benefit plans, socially responsible investing—bearded hippies!—has been anathema to their very existence. Will this ever change?
Commodity Rebound May Lead to Record Year for China's SWF
After a 2.1% loss on its global assets in 2008, the China investment Corp. will likely post its best yearly gain in 2009, boosted by rebounding markets and investment in commodity-related companies.
Amid Fundraising Uptick, Infrastructure Deal Volume Remains Low
Despite the highest fundraising figures following the financial
crisis, private equity infrastructure deal volume this year is squeezed.
CalSTRS Thanks Alternatives for Positive Returns
The pension credited its 12.3% return for
the 2009 to 2010 fiscal year to a greater allocation to alternative
investments.
CIO Survey Shows Long-Only Active Equity Strategies Poised to Lose
In a a Keefe, Bruyette & Woods survey of chief investment officers
overseeing US institutional portfolios, investors are showing a growing
interest in “barbell” allocations to indexed equities and high-alpha
alternatives.
University of Texas Endowment Invests $500 Million in Gold
Fund managers at the University of
Texas
endowment are allotting money to a commodity that most investors turn to
when
they expect high inflation and economic hardship.
Peru Increases Cap on Pension Investment Internationally
Peru's four pension funds are seeking to invest more abroad and will
likely ask Congress to change a law that set a 30% ceiling.
From ai5000 Magazine: Wealth in Sin
During the best of times and the worst of times, people will continue
to drink, smoke, gamble and fight. Here’s an assessment of the Vice
Fund portfolio, firsthand. Paula Vasan reports.
From ai5000 Magazine: Life After Death
Critics are singing private equity’s swan song. They’re wrong—and
here’s why. Joe Flood reports.
J.P.Morgan Pursues Alternatives Portfolio for UK Schemes
The firm's asset management division is offering small
UK schemes with greater access to hedge funds, infrastructure and
private equity.