Global Investment Matters

2009

Click here (PDF - 3MB) for the full publication, or below for the individual articles.

Global round-up
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The economic world has changed
We need to revisit our asset allocation thinking from the ground up.
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Defining the pension and investment industry of the future
The pace of change in the investment industry is more rapid than ever before, creating enormous challenges for institutional investors, investment managers and intermediaries such as consultants. In its ‘Defining moments’ research, the Thinking Ahead Group explored what the future investment landscape might look like.
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DC – it’s tough out there
The global financial markets have had a number of impacts on the DC world. We argue that while DC success does look a lot harder to achieve now, this may well act as a wake-up call to build stronger, better design and execution at a critical time.
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Are 'green' buildings good for your portfolio?
Why sustainable property may promise better returns.
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Private equity
We look back at a period of unprecedented volatility in this asset class and what the future holds.
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A fund dashboard – driving to make a difference
In today’s increasingly complex markets, there is a risk that asset owners can be overwhelmed with data. The fund dashboard aims to provide the analysis, commentary and guidance needed for decisions, helping to convert information into action and making sure we focus on the important, not the urgent.
Roger Urwin answers questions on the fund dashboard
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Imitation is the best form of flattery
In a world characterised by an increasingly difficult investment landscape and greater specialisation in asset management, fund management fees have continued to rise. So called ‘smart beta’ strategies provide a potentially more cost-effective route to capturing investment returns, providing an important ‘control lever’ in creating value and reducing cost drag.
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Dynamic risk management
Dynamic risk management broadly encompasses a process which allows an investor to adjust the risk profile of their portfolio based on defined metrics.
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Top pension funds reach 12 trillion dollars
Pension & Investments and Watson Wyatt Global 300 survey.
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Asset growth among top managers slows
Pension & Investments and Watson Wyatt Global 500 survey.
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2008

Introduction
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Global round-up
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Playing for higher stakes
Fierce competition has put a premium on talent and leadership skills.
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The DC default dilemma
What to do when DC members can not or will not choose an investment option? We look at four countries’ solutions.
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Liability hedging: Why are funds pursuing it?
Some commentators have been a little sceptical of the role of liability hedging within pension fund management. We suggest that liability hedging can have a role for most DB pension funds today if instituted in a way consistent with the governance level of those funds.
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Getting the most out of your bond portfolio
The past few years have witnessed an enormous change in the way in which bond portfolios are managed. In this article we address the topics of market evolution, the beta versus alpha allocation and new areas of bond mandate design.
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Does it pay to be sustainable?
Over the last decade sustainable investment has grown dramatically and is moving into the mainstream, but what is behind this shift and why should pension funds act?
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Is small always beautiful?
The successful asset management firms of the future will be those that are able to win the war for talent. If a business is well-run, has highly-skilled investment professionals in an environment that allows talent to flourish, it should be successful whether it is large or small. So, what should an investor look for?
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Surveys show governance plays a key role in endowment asset strategy
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Top global pension funds reach 10 trillion dollar mark
Pension & Investments/Watson Wyatt global 300 survey.
Read more (PDF 227KB)

Global fund management assets grow rapidly
Pension & Investments/Watson Wyatt global 500 survey.
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Does a more dynamic approach to investment strategy really add value?
Over the next decade, the most successful pension fund investors are likely to apply a more dynamic (but still long-term) approach to investment strategy. This can apply to de-risking over time – that is allocating from equities to bonds – when the relative pricing is favourable. It can also apply to taking opportunities to acquire long-term investments at attractive prices, and it can involve selling long-term investments if prices are unattractive (as all investments have a price at which they no longer fit into a strategy).
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Global real estate
With mixed local market property conditions, many investors are looking more widely at global real estate opportunities. We asked one of Watson Wyatt’s real estate specialists what potential exists in this asset class.
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Indices that beat the market
A new generation of index products aims to outperform older models. Watson Wyatt’s Thinking Ahead Group explains.
Read more (PDF 155KB)