IMCO World View: Active strategies, diversification and liquidity focus
Canadian pension investor IMCO is bracing for higher inflation and a weaker US dollar in 2026, as the $62 billion fund said investors need to protect diversification and liquidity in a volatile environment and be wary of risks in passive investments. In a podcast, chief strategist Nick Chamie unpacked the asset allocation insights, which were released in the annual IMCO World View paper, in conversation with Top1000funds.com editor Amanda White.
Conflict in Iran: Investors mute the noise but inflation risk grows
Investors are watching conflict in the Middle East closely as inflationary pressures begin to build beneath the surface. One of the challenges for many investors is reduced exposure to the hedging benefits of fossil fuels in listed, and private markets.
Dynamic diversification: CalSTRS’ One Fund approach navigates uncertainty
Scott Chan is shocked the market hasn’t reacted more to the crisis emanating from the conflict in the Middle East. But the CalSTRS’ CIO is confident its one fund approach allows it to position dynamically and ensure diversification no matter what is presented.
UTIMCO flags AI overweight; tweaks equity as US exceptionalism wanes
UTIMCO measures its AI exposure via analysis of how investee companies have integrated the technology. It reveals a 5 per cent overweight to AI thanks mostly to hedge fund strategies and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the investor pointed to history to flag a likely reversal to the mean in global equity markets.
Infrastructure investors look beyond US to capture Europe’s green premium
Europe, buoyed by a new competitiveness roadmap and its ongoing commitment to the climate transition, is set to attract more institutional capital, IFM’s latest research shows.
The Asset Owner Directory is an interactive tool to give readers an insight into the world of global asset owners. It includes key information for the largest asset owners around the world such as key personnel, asset allocation and performance.
| Fund Name | Country | AUM ($B) | Articles | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO) | Canada | $63 | 28 | View Info |
PKA Pension Fund | Denmark | $79 | 7 | View Info |
California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) | United States | $368 | 133 | View Info |
People’s Pension (People’s Partnership) | United Kingdom | $42 | 2 | View Info |
Chicago Teachers: Where succession fears put managers on watch
In a recent investment committee meeting, trustees at Chicago Teachers heard how succession risk at external managers can hit not only returns but also managers’ ability to bring ideas into the investment process and consistency around portfolio construction and implementation.
Why allocators need a ‘continuous exploration’ mindset for AI adoption
Asset owners are seeing a major shift in data management and analytics as AI enables more efficient investment processes. CPP Investments and OPTrust outline how the technology is being progressively integrated into their funds.
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
The global economy is increasingly bifurcated between the US, Europe and Asia and how the growth projections and geopolitical risks between these regions plays out is of increasing interest to asset owners. This event looks at the return and impact opportunities in the region, and the importance of Asia in the global economy.
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
This event looks at the challenges long-term investors face in an environment of disruption including ongoing geopolitical risk and shifts in global economic dynamics. By accessing faculty of Harvard’s esteemed university, this event will leave investors empowered to tackle disruption in their portfolios and working lives.
West Yorkshire prepares to up the pressure on Shell and BP
A new approach to holding the major oil companies to account will see the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, together with a cohort of other UK and European pension funds, demand BP and Shell explain their business plans in a world of declining demand for fossil fuels.
Stephen Kotkin on regional conflicts, and the one war investors can’t price
Stanford University’s Stephen Kotkin provides an insider’s view on the conflict in Iran, and explains why a US-China war remains the ultimate unpriceable risk event for investors. The celebrated geopolitical expert sat down with Conexus Financial’s Colin Tate at his office inside Hoover Tower.
CPP Investments, NBIM reflect on lessons from a 5-year transparency journey
The Global Pension Transparency Benchmark has been a driving force in improved transparency of disclosures and reporting among global asset owners. As the project comes to its close after five years, two leading funds reflect on why transparency has been a clear focus for their organisations.
NBIM quantifies the portfolio threat of economic fragmentation
An economically fragmented world, where different economic blocs refuse to collaborate, impose tariffs and restrict foreign investments, would have disastrous consequences on the $2.2 trillion portfolio of Norges Bank Investment Management. Its latest stress test offers a rare glimpse into the concrete portfolio impact of deglobalisation.
“Top1000funds.com is a breath of fresh air in terms circulating stories that encompass new ideas and original thinking to keep us all abreast of the ideas that matters to us in the asset management industry in general and asset allocation spheres. I thank you for that.”
“Top1000funds.com provides a great mix of stories that are of interest to asset owners and those who work with them, covering both investment topics and organisational ones. While aimed at “the world’s largest institutional investors,” the articles are relevant to all kinds of asset owners, as well as professionals at other investment organisations.”
“The Top1000funds.com newsletter has become a very powerful source of information for the community of asset owners around the world. It is relevant and deep. I’ve known Amanda White for more than a decade now, she probably has the deepest understanding of the topics that are of interest to asset owners in the field globally.”
“I really enjoy reading Top1000funds.com articles for my reference in investment. I would describe it as a kind of lighthouse when I was lost in turbulent market situation.”
“Congratulations to Amanda and the team on this milestone. Your timely and relevant articles consistently offer thoughtful insights about the industry, and I look forward to seeing what the next era of investing will bring.”
Top1000funds.com produces high quality and thoughtful journalism that frequently aids my thinking.
“Accurate, authoritative, informative and readable. Top1000funds.com is everything a specialised industry publication should be. Congratulations on your 1000th issue.”
“I have been a big fan of Top1000funds.com for years and eagerly await the next issue. There are three reasons for this. First, it is very prescient. I will always remember how it was writing about income inequality as a system-level risk like climate change long before this was generally recognised. Second, it is always on top of the most relevant current events in sustainable investing. Third, it brings in guest writers who are luminaries in this domain.”
Texas Teachers’ CIO questions TPA, DAA value-add
Chief investment officer of the $225 billion Teacher Retirement System of Texas Jase Auby has voiced reservations about the total portfolio approach, particularly regarding the robustness of its central feature, the top-down decision-making process. He also outlined why the fund doesn’t consider dynamic asset allocation a durable source of alpha.
Aware Super mulls return to infra funds; builds AI-driven data edge
Aware Super is considering a return to infrastructure funds after years of favouring direct investments. The infrastructure allocation currently stands at $15 billion and the fund sees benefits to access a “broader set of offerings” and opportunity sets via fund commitments to GPs, its head of infrastructure Mark Hector says.
Podcasts