CalPERS is considering doing away with traditional asset class classifications in favour of classifying assets according to fundamental characteristics in a bid to provide a better understanding of portfolio risks and performance drivers and so move to a more effective portfolio construction and risk management framework. Amanda White reports.
Why credit matters
In this updated paper, Janus expands on the emerging themes in the fixed income market, highlighting that important factors in 2010 include rising interest rates, spread tightening and the US government’s support of the mortgage market, which all have potentially serious implications for yield-seeking investors.
Risk parity becomes bittersweet flavour of the month (2)
 “Understanding a program’s results involves attributing relative performance to active management, identifying any tactical asset allocation decisions and assessing mechanical factors such as leverage costs. “For most investors implementation of a leveraged strategy would likely require the retention of a beta overlay manager to execute and maintain the desired leveraged systematic exposures or an … Read more
Selective opportunities in private markets: Wurts
Private market investors should focus on distressed debt and to a lesser extent secondaries, according to the annual private equity outlook by consultant Wurts Associates, which contrary to other industry observers believes value can be added through top down analysis of the sector.
Strategic implications drive climate change study
The 14 institutional investors participating in the climate change strategic asset allocation study, a collaborative between Mercer, Carbon Trust and the IFC, will all receive individual portfolio scenario analysis of how physical and policy climate change-related events could affect their portfolio at an asset allocation level.
CalPERS sharpens risk, liability tools
After watching the simultaneous declines of its market value and funded status during the financial crisis, the $204.8 billion CalPERS will conduct a full review of the methodologies underpinning its asset liability management (ALM) process.
