Professional Pensions www.professionalpensions.com One-third of Nordic investors to increase hedge fund exposures <p><!--summary start--> NORDICS - Nordic investors are continuing to show optimism in hedge funds with nearly a third planning to increase their exposure this year to strategies like global macro, event driven and long/short funds, a new report shows. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1008256/-nordic-investors-increase-hedge-fund-exposures https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1008256/-nordic-investors-increase-hedge-fund-exposures Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:09:00 +0000 Europe's leaders are winning debt battle, Loeyttyniemi says <p><!--summary start--> EUROPE - European leaders are winning over investors as they try to keep the single-currency bloc intact, raising the appeal of the region's so-called rescue bonds, said Timo Loeyttyniemi, the head of Finland's state pension fund. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1939651/europe-leaders-winning-debt-battle-loeyttyniemi https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1939651/europe-leaders-winning-debt-battle-loeyttyniemi Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:57:55 +0000 VER up 5.3% in Q1 <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Valtion Elåkerahasto (VER), Finland's state pension fund, gained 5.3% during the first quarter on the back of its equity investment performance. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1635183/ver-q1 https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1635183/ver-q1 Thu, 6 May 2010 14:53:27 +0000 Neste Oil transfers scheme to OP Life Assurance <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Neste Oil will transfer is supplementary pension plans to insurer OP Life Assurance, the firm said today. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1585715/neste-oil-transfers-scheme-op-life-assurance https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1585715/neste-oil-transfers-scheme-op-life-assurance Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:27:46 +0000 Pension funds invest in Finnish bonds <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - European pension funds scooped up nearly a fifth of Finland's recent €3bn (US$4.4bn) bond issuance, the State Treasury said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1005757/pension-funds-invest-finnish-bonds https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1005757/pension-funds-invest-finnish-bonds Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:06:37 +0000 Surviving the global crisis <p><!--summary start--> Finland has been feeling the impact of the global economic crisis, but unlike other countries it has strong diversification tactics <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1495883/surviving-global-crisis https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1495883/surviving-global-crisis Thu, 28 May 2009 12:23:00 +0000 Finnish Government backtracks on increasing retirement age <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The Finnish government has withdrawn its plans to increase the pension age in increments from 63 to 65 from 2011, after reaching an agreement with the three main labour unions and employers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1458087/finnish-government-backtracks-increasing-retirement-age https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1458087/finnish-government-backtracks-increasing-retirement-age Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Etera posts 17% investment loss <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND- Finish pension insurer Etera posted a 17% loss on investments in 2008 down from positive 4.5% the previous year. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1465962/etera-posts-investment-loss https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1465962/etera-posts-investment-loss Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Finnish workers' fury at pension age increase <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The Finnish government's decision to increase the minimum age for pensions from 63 to 65 without consulting labour organisations first has sparked anger among unions and workers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1445241/finnish-workers-fury-pension-age-increase https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1445241/finnish-workers-fury-pension-age-increase Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Finnish insurer joins equity exodus <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The €5.3bn (US$6.8bn) Finnish insurer Etera has reduced the share of its equity investments amid market turmoil, MandateWire reports. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1447128/finnish-insurer-joins-equity-exodus https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1447128/finnish-insurer-joins-equity-exodus Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Varma sheds equities for bonds <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The €27bn (US$34.6bn) Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company has further reduced its investments in listed shares, MandateWire reports. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1459042/varma-sheds-equities-bonds https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1459042/varma-sheds-equities-bonds Mon, 3 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Finland proposes measures to help pension funds <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The government has proposed temporary measures to ease pressure on pension funds to sell shares into a slumping market. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454251/finland-proposes-measures-help-pension-funds https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454251/finland-proposes-measures-help-pension-funds Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0000 VER records negative result <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Finland's State Pension Fund (VER) investments yielded a return of -6.4% in the first half of 2008, compared to 3.4% in the same period of 2007, the fund has announced. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454944/ver-records-negative-result https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454944/ver-records-negative-result Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0000 OECD: Pension reform needed in Finland <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The challenges of an ageing population and rising health costs are posing risks to the long term sustainability of Finland's public finances, the OECD's annual economic survey of the country has warned. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1459491/oecd-pension-reform-finland https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1459491/oecd-pension-reform-finland Thu, 5 Jun 2008 01:00:00 +0000 LGPI invests in Asian property <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Aberdeen Property Investors has announced the investment of US$75m from the Finnish Local Government Pensions Institution (LGPI). <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1449327/lgpi-invests-asian-property https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1449327/lgpi-invests-asian-property Wed, 21 May 2008 01:00:00 +0000 Finns invest in private equity <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Finnish local government pensions institution, KEVA, and insurance company, Etera, have allocated to private equity. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1459971/finns-invest-private-equity https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1459971/finns-invest-private-equity Tue, 6 May 2008 01:00:00 +0000 Finland sets up reform watchdog <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The Finnish government has set up a pension forum to monitor and assess the implementation of reforms in the sector. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1445375/finland-sets-reform-watchdog https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1445375/finland-sets-reform-watchdog Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Pension Fennia increases market share <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Private sector pension insurer Pension Fennia has increased its market share to 10.6%, up from 10.2% the previous year. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1456031/pension-fennia-increases-market-share https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1456031/pension-fennia-increases-market-share Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Disappointing results for Tapiola <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Tapiola Pension's investment income has dropped to 4.1% during 2007, down from 6.8% in 2006, despite all asset classes performing positively. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1457528/disappointing-results-tapiola https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1457528/disappointing-results-tapiola Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Opera strike thwarted <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - After an eleventh hour deal, a strike has been avoided by the Finnish National Opera (FNO) over a pay and pensions row. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1467364/opera-strike-thwarted https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1467364/opera-strike-thwarted Fri, 4 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Nokia transfers pension liability <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Nokia Pension Fund is to transfer the statutory pension liability of Nokia and Nokia Siemens networks in Finland to the pension insurance companies Ilmarinen and Varma in March 2008. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460353/nokia-transfers-pension-liability https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460353/nokia-transfers-pension-liability Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Pension funds oppose Elisa proposals <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Proposals to amend the corporate structure and strategy of telecoms operator Elisa have been opposed by Finland's largest private sector pension insurers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1455123/pension-funds-oppose-elisa-proposals https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1455123/pension-funds-oppose-elisa-proposals Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Church awards ethical mandates <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has awarded two socially responsible European equity mandates worth €60m (US$88.9m). <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1449376/church-awards-ethical-mandates https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1449376/church-awards-ethical-mandates Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Finns invest in metal <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Finnish investment institutions have invested in nickel and copper projects in North Finland, run by Candandian based firm Scandinavian Minerals. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1452032/finns-invest-metal https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1452032/finns-invest-metal Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Finns up hedge fund exposure <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Allocations to hedge funds by pension and pension-related funds have doubled since the start of the year, the latest statistics from the Finish Pension Alliance (TELA) have shown. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1453811/finns-hedge-fund-exposure https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1453811/finns-hedge-fund-exposure Fri, 9 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Major pension insurance investment <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Two large pension insurance companies have become major investors in chemicals group, Kemira Oyj, after the state sold its shares in the firm. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460556/major-pension-insurance-investment https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460556/major-pension-insurance-investment Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:00:00 +0000 VER posts 7% return <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The State Pensions Fund (VER) posted a return of 7% over 2006, with assets totalling over €10bn at year end. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1463723/ver-posts-return https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1463723/ver-posts-return Thu, 1 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Funds target Finnish property <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Three of Europe's largest pension funds have invested equal capital in a new and customised property fund launched by Aberdeen Property Investors. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454305/funds-target-finnish-property https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454305/funds-target-finnish-property Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Finns still retiring too soon <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - People are still retiring far too early in Finland despite efforts to push back the retirement age by two to three years, the Finnish Centre for Pensions (Eläketurvakeskus/ETK) has found. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454171/finns-retiring-soon https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1454171/finns-retiring-soon Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000 Finland reiterates call for REITs <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The Finnish pension industry has welcomed proposed changes to real estate laws but vowed not to give up on the establishment of a Finnish Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) model. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1455559/finland-reiterates-reits https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1455559/finland-reiterates-reits Wed, 6 Sep 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Merrill Lynch adds to Nordic team <p><!--summary start--> EUROPE - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has recruited Tomas Bristedt to its retail wholesale Nordic team, with responsibility for the Nordic region. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1462927/merrill-lynch-adds-nordic-team https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1462927/merrill-lynch-adds-nordic-team Mon, 4 Sep 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Finnish state fund posts 0% return <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The State Pensions Fund (VER) posted a return of 0% for the first half of 2006, with assets rising just e100m from year-end 2005. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1456113/finnish-fund-posts-return https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1456113/finnish-fund-posts-return Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Finland's pension reform yet to kick in <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The expected effective retirement age has not yet increased, despite being a key aim of the 2005 pension reform. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1457445/finland-pension-reform-kick https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1457445/finland-pension-reform-kick Mon, 17 Jul 2006 01:00:00 +0000 KEVA seeks high yield bonds <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The e20bn Local Government Pensions Institution (KEVA) is to reduce its allocation to fixed income over time while increasing the portion of high yield in its portfolio. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460030/keva-seeks-yield-bonds https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460030/keva-seeks-yield-bonds Tue, 6 Jun 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Sevón appointed new Nordea CIO <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Nordea Investment Management has appointed Staffan Sevón as its new chief investment officer, responsible for portfolio management in Finland with operational focus on Finnish equities. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1465575/sev-appointed-nordea-cio https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1465575/sev-appointed-nordea-cio Fri, 19 May 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Plans for Finnish pension reform hang in the balance <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - A raft of proposals to overhaul the Finnish pension system hang in the balance as a June deadline set for the ministry of social affairs and health to submit the proposals to parliament approaches. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1451671/plans-finnish-pension-reform-hang-balance https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1451671/plans-finnish-pension-reform-hang-balance Fri, 12 May 2006 01:00:00 +0000 OECD urges Finland to re-think its pension reform <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Reforms introduced in 2005 unnecessarily add to future pension costs and should be reconsidered, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has claimed. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1458627/oecd-urges-finland-pension-reform https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1458627/oecd-urges-finland-pension-reform Thu, 4 May 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Finns taking earnings-related pension at 59 <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - Finns are still retiring on an earnings-related pension at 59, no increase on the 2004 level, even though an increase of this retirement age by up to three years has been a key objective of Finnish pension policy. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460096/finns-taking-earnings-related-pension-59 https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460096/finns-taking-earnings-related-pension-59 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 01:00:00 +0000 Finnish KEVA plans asset restructure <p><!--summary start--> FINLAND - The e20bn Local Government Pensions Institution (KEVA) will put forward plans to its board of trustees to restructure its asset portfolio on the back of consistently low interest rates. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1467807/finnish-keva-plans-asset-restructure https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1467807/finnish-keva-plans-asset-restructure Thu, 2 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000