The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is not only the most devastating environmental disaster ever in the US, it raises issues around energy policies which continue to evolve. A client note from Russell Investments says energy stocks will continue to reflect the impact of the disaster and investors may well look at opportunities in companies involved in the clean-up effort or alternative energy supply.
Funds seed for the future
Two major pension funds from the Netherlands and Canada – ABP and OMERS – have seeded an innovation and technology program to invest in their domestic knowledge economies. Called inkef capital, it has already begun searching for the success stories of the future. 
Conservatism impedes behemoths
The largest 20 pension funds globally, which make up 39.2 per cent of the largest 300 funds, have underperformed the rest of the universe measured by the Towers Watson/Pensions & Investments survey for the first time. 
Internal contracts could solve accountability issues
Internal investment committees and teams should be given an investment management agreement by their boards, in order to define accountability, according to Russell Investments expert, Sorca Kelly-Scholte. 
China’s growth not so lopsided but markets are
You get immune to rapid change in China, with the pace of development clearly visible all around. One wonders how long it will still be considered a developing nation. 
DiNapoli’s first snag at NY State fund as markets sour again
After three tumultuous years of reforms including a raft of new policies and procedures at the third-largest pension fund in the US, culminating in a 25.9 per cent return last year, Thomas DiNapoli, the New York State Comptroller, has hit a snag in the last quarter
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