Japan
AIJ president arrested in £878m Japanese pension scandal
Four executives of AIJ Investment Advisors have been arrested in an alleged fraud relating to missing pension fund money.
Seismic shift in risk appetite sees Japan's managers suffer
Recently released year-end results show assets under management for Japanese asset managers were down 12% in the year ended March 31, as Gavin Blair reports
CPPIB forms joint venture with Asian logistics firm
CANADA/JAPAN - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Global Logistic Properties (GLP) have formed a joint venture to invest in the country's logistics network.
GPIF returns 0.21% in Q2 as assets fall by $33bn
JAPAN - Japan's public pension fund scraped a small return on its investments in the second quarter after its assets fell by $33bn, its latest report shows.
Japan delays accounting changes - reports
JAPAN - The implementation of new accounting rules that would have forced companies to book pension fund shortfalls as liabilities on their balance sheets is to be postponed, according to reports.
Moody's downgrades Japan on debt concerns
JAPAN - Credit rating agency Moody's has downgraded Japan's sovereign debt rating by one notch, saying weak political leadership has hampered growth.
Mercer considers implemented consulting launch in Japan
JAPAN - Mercer is considering launching its implemented consulting service in the Japanese institutional market.
Japanese pensions have twice as much in pooled accounts than with asset managers
JAPAN - Japan's corporate pension funds have twice as much money entrusted to pooled accounts run by life companies and trust banks as they have under mandates awarded to asset managers, research shows.
Chuo Mitsui inches to top of GPIF managers
JAPAN - Chuo Mitsui Asset Trust and Banking has emerged as the Government Pension Investment Fund's (GPIF) largest external manager over the past year, while AXA Rosenberg has disappeared from the list.
QCM targets Asia Pacific with new Japan office
JAPAN - UK hedge fund manager Quality Capital Management (QCM) has opened an office in Tokyo as part of plans to grow its Asia Pacific business.
Global web debate: Investing in Japan
GP speaks to global asset managers about where they see opportunities arising from the recovery.
Top changes for Fidelity in Asia
ASIA - Fidelity International has promoted Judy Marlinski to president of the Japan business and scooped the former CEO of BGI's Asia business for a new managing director of Asia ex-Japan role.
Japan pensions to boost alternative investment
JAPAN - Japanese pension funds plan to increase investments in alternative assets and pare their holdings of domestic bonds and stocks this fiscal year to diversify portfolios and bolster returns, a survey showed.
Reports from Japan
Japanese asset managers and pension funds share their experiences dealing with one of Japan's most severe natural disasters. Gavin Blair and Raquel Pichardo-Allison report
Japan should not use pension funds for disaster relief - minister
JAPAN - Japan should not tap funds said aside for pension payments to fund disaster relief efforts, economics minister Kaoru Yosano has said.
Mobius: Do not panic sell Japan
JAPAN - Investors in Japan should look beyond the short-term impact of the crisis as the country will recover quickly due to its large foreign reserves, said Mark Mobius.
Week on the Web 11 March - 17 March 2011: What stories have you missed out on this week?
GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days.
Euro markets tumble on fresh Japan radiation fears
EUROPE/JAPAN - Major European indices suffered triple-digit losses on Tuesday after a third explosion at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant raised fresh radiation fears and sparked a 1,000-point plunge on the Nikkei 225.
Japan quake will delay growth until Q3 - Nomura
JAPAN - Nomura predicts the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan will cut between 0.5% and 1% off the country's GDP next quarter.
Korean fund to buy stake in Brazil mining firm
SOUTH KOREA/JAPAN/BRAZIL - South Korea's National Pension Service and Posco, the world's third-biggest steelmaker, will buy a combined 15% stake in a Brazilian niobium producer with a group of Japanese companies.
Japan fund returns 0.62%
JAPAN - The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) returned 0.62% in the third quarter of the fiscal year, down from 1.62% the previous quarter.
World's biggest pension fund may sell Japan bonds for payouts
JAPAN - Japan's public pension fund, the world's largest, said it may become a net seller of bonds to cover payments in the world's most rapidly ageing society.
China overtakes Japan as world's second largest economy
GLOBAL - China has eclipsed Japan as the world's second largest economy after posting GDP figures of $5.8trn for 2010, beating Japan's $5.474trn.
Japanese pensions under pressure
Japan's occupational pensions are straining under the pressure to provide pensions for its rapidly ageing population, as Gavin Blair reports
