All passive management articles – Page 3
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OpinionMechanical bulls: the dangers of index capitalism
Markets are behaving oddly these days. The ‘term premium’, which reflects the compensation for investing in longer-term debt, is zero in the US and it is inverted globally.
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FeaturesWest Midlands to divest from arms manufacturer
The West Midlands Pension Fund has agreed to divest from South Korean arms manufacturer Hanwha Corporation after years of sustained pressure on the company from institutional investors across the globe in relation to cluster munitions.
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OpinionDesigning DC default funds for better outcomes
From active and passive investment management to member concerns and ESG – three experts, including a mastertrust director, a consultant and a finance director, debate the key issues facing DC default fund providers.
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Opinion
DC default funds: Does active management have a role to play?
Paul Todd, director of investment development and delivery at Nest, Lydia Fearn, head of DC and financial wellbeing at Redington, and the Revd Keith Stephenson, director of finance and resources at the Association of Commonwealth Universities, discuss investment styles and target date funds for DC default fund design.
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News
Hammersmith & Fulham weighs up fossil fuel divestment
The £1bn London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Superannuation Fund is discussing whether to lower its fossil fuel exposure as part of its next investment strategy review.
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OpinionData Crunch: An unhelpful binary
Everyone knows that passive investment is growing, but what do we mean by passive? The story is in some places more nuanced than it first appears.
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OpinionThe challenges of passive ESG investment
The universe of passive and smart beta products with an environmental, social and governance-based dimension has expanded significantly over the past five years.
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Features
Structured equity appeals but ‘not a no-risk strategy’
Analysis: For some time now, financial punters have prescribed passive investment as the low-cost panacea for investors bloodied by years of underwhelming active management.
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News
Jersey teachers’ fund puts faith in active management
The States of Jersey Teachers’ Superannuation Fund has bucked the current trend away from active management and increased its exposure to active equities, reducing index shares.
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OpinionWhat to look for in an active manager
The question of active versus passive management never really gets answered. Various market participants have their own views on each approach, often depending on what time period is considered.
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FeaturesEnvironment Agency fund in surplus with ESG
Strong investment returns have lifted the Environment Agency Active Pension Fund into surplus, as it challenged the industry to collaborate to improve uptake of environmental, social and governance-related strategies.
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OpinionWill the FCA market study revolutionise pensions?
The Financial Conduct Authority’s asset management market study is finally with us, but despite the dramatic headlines, the final report turned out not to be the ‘game changer’ that some hoped for and others feared.
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Opinion
DC Debate Q1 (part 1): Which investment strategies work for DC investors?
In the first DC Debate of 2017, eight defined contribution specialists discuss the pros and cons of illiquid assets, traditional indices and smart beta strategies.
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Opinion
Is it time for DC defaults to embrace ESG?
Large defined benefit funds and defined contribution mastertrusts have long been using their investments to engage with or divest from companies involved in controversial practices. Now, a renewed public focus on environmental, social and governance issues, as well as corporate reporting, could convince more to follow.
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News
DCIF: Mastertrusts must up their game on investment design
Mastertrusts must place greater importance on investment design to achieve the best possible outcomes for members, a new study suggests.
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FeaturesReuters scheme simplifies strategy in liquidity search
As part of a push to simplify its asset allocation and achieve greater liquidity, Reuters Pension Fund is exiting its property investments, putting some of the proceeds into a new buy-and-maintain mandate and an existing diversified growth fund.
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News
FCA wants to strengthen duty on managers and consultants
About £109bn of investor assets is held by managers who charge high fees but do not offer significant variation from an index-tracking strategy, the Financial Conduct Authority’s interim report on competition in the asset management market has found.
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OpinionThere is no such thing as passive
“It sounds like they’re saying passive life is good, he thought. But there is no such thing as passive life. That’s a contradiction.” Philip K Dick, A Scanner Darkly
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Opinion
Active management of passive funds – a viable strategy for DC?
Since the introduction of freedom and choice, value for money has been high on the agenda for defined contribution schemes. As trustees try to keep on top of costs, could an active asset allocation approach work for schemes with underlying passive funds?
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NewsRailways scheme on track with cost management
The Railways Pension Scheme has saved £100m in fees, having restructured its external management and pooled fund arrangements, but despite being cost-conscious, the fund remains focused on net returns.