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.
Germany’s largest pension fund VBL ups diversification; invests more abroad
Germany’s €70 billion pension provider VBL is increasing its diversification, notably investing in overseas real estate outside Germany for the first time. It’s also increasing its tilt to international equities over European stocks, enabled by an organisational and investment process overhaul.
Why Lothian is ready to lead on LGPS pooling – if it comes to Scotland
Scotland’s Lothian Pension Fund’s celebrated inhouse management affords active management at the price of passive and the ability to shape specific mandates with managers. It also positions the fund to lead on pooling – if pooling comes to Scotland’s LGPS funds.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PKA Pension Fund | Denmark | $79 | 7 | View Info |
California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) | United States | $368 | 134 | View Info |
People’s Pension (People’s Partnership) | United Kingdom | $42 | 2 | View Info |
University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Company (UTIMCO) | United States | $68 | 10 | View Info |
Iceland’s LV mulls more EM exposures, PE co-investments after SAA review
Iceland’s LV is eyeing more emerging markets allocation and private equity co-investments after conducting an SAA review, which will be finalised in the first half of 2026. CIO Arne Vagn Olsen says the shift is designed to make the $11 billion pension fund future-ready.
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.
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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.
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