Professional Pensions www.professionalpensions.com Brazilian pension funds stay local <p><!--summary start--> Rodrigo Amaral finds the allure of the fast-growing emerging market and operational hurdles have led Brazilian pension funds to stick to their home-country bias <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2121700/brazilian-pension-funds-stay-local https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2121700/brazilian-pension-funds-stay-local Tue, 1 Nov 2011 16:18:00 +0000 S&P Indices launches new index <p><!--summary start--> AMERICAS- S&P Indices has launched its first in a series of indices designed to measure the performance of the Chilean, Columbian and Peruvian stock exchanges. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2105614/-indices-launches-index https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2105614/-indices-launches-index Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:24:00 +0000 Two Mexican pension funds to merge <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - Mexican bank Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB has agreed to merge its pension fund with Afore XXI, the pension fund half owned by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and Prudential. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2102800/mexican-pension-funds-merge https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2102800/mexican-pension-funds-merge Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:35:00 +0000 ING sells LatAm business for €2.7bn <p><!--summary start--> LATIN AMERICA - Dutch firm ING Groep has agreed to sell its Latin America pension and life insurance business for €2.7bn ($4bn) to Colombian firm Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana (GRUPOSURA). <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011950/ing-sells-latam-business-eur27bn https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011950/ing-sells-latam-business-eur27bn Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:59:02 +0000 Chilean pension funds hit $153bn <p><!--summary start--> CHILE - Chilean pension funds reached $153bn in assets in June, up 11% from the previous year, according to data released by the pension regulator. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2093349/chilean-pension-funds-hit-usd153bn https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2093349/chilean-pension-funds-hit-usd153bn Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:03:00 +0000 OTPP to vie for Chilean utilities stake <p><!--summary start--> CHILE/CANADA - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan plans to bid to increase its stakes in two Chilean water utilities. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2093345/otpp-vie-chilean-utilities-stake https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2093345/otpp-vie-chilean-utilities-stake Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:50:35 +0000 Bolivia takes U-turn on pension reforms <p><!--summary start--> Industry watchers bemoan the government's move to nationalise private pensions and reduce the retirement age, Rodrigo Amaral reports <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1063311/bolivia-takes-pension-reforms https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1063311/bolivia-takes-pension-reforms Fri, 6 May 2011 18:46:16 +0000 Week on the Web: What stories have you missed out on this week? <p><!--summary start--> 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. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2068731/web-stories-missed https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2068731/web-stories-missed Fri, 6 May 2011 11:30:03 +0000 Peru to 'shield' pension funds from Humala, Benavides says <p><!--summary start--> PERU - Peru will seek to toughen laws to prevent presidential front-runner Ollanta Humala from tampering with $30bn managed by private pension funds should he win next month's election, Finance Minister Ismael Benavides said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2068284/peru-shield-pension-funds-humala-benavides https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2068284/peru-shield-pension-funds-humala-benavides Thu, 5 May 2011 12:39:00 +0000 Puerto Rico credit rating may be cut over pensions <p><!--summary start--> PUERTO RICO - Puerto Rico's A3 general-obligation debt rating is under review for a possible downgrade because of pension strains, Moody's Investors Service said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1018045/puerto-rico-credit-rating-cut-pensions https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1018045/puerto-rico-credit-rating-cut-pensions Wed, 4 May 2011 10:22:39 +0000 LatAm assets to hit $1.4trn <p><!--summary start--> LATIN AMERICA - Assets in Latin American pension and mutual funds will hit $1.4trn over the next five years, with Chile emerging as the most attractive market for asset managers, a new report shows. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2046741/latam-assets-hit-usd14trn https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2046741/latam-assets-hit-usd14trn Mon, 2 May 2011 09:39:07 +0000 Argentina names board directors at Banco Galicia, Patagonia <p><!--summary start--> ARGENTINA - Argentina's pension agency named two directors to the board of Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires SA and Banco Patagonia SA as part of the government's plan to exercise more voting power over companies in which it owns shares. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2046600/argentina-names-board-directors-banco-galicia-patagonia https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2046600/argentina-names-board-directors-banco-galicia-patagonia Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:19:00 +0000 Peru proposal will allow pension funds to invest more abroad <p><!--summary start--> PERU - A Peruvian congressional committee approved a government proposal to increase the limit on private pension fund managers' investments overseas. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1015625/peru-proposal-allow-pension-funds-invest-abroad https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1015625/peru-proposal-allow-pension-funds-invest-abroad Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:44:01 +0000 Ecuador pension fund cutting public bonds on risk, Serrano says <p><!--summary start--> ECUADOR - Ecuador's public pension fund, the nation's biggest institutional investor, will reduce its portfolio risk by limiting government debt purchases and boosting corporate and home lending, a board member said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2046063/ecuador-pension-fund-cutting-public-bonds-risk-serrano https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2046063/ecuador-pension-fund-cutting-public-bonds-risk-serrano Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:42:11 +0000 Peru's top pension fund buying stocks after election slump <p><!--summary start--> PERU - Prima AFP, Peru's biggest pension fund manager, is taking advantage of the biggest stock selloff in more than two years and declines in the country's bonds and currency to buy assets on a bet prices will rebound after presidential elections. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2045453/peru-pension-fund-buying-stocks-election-slump https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2045453/peru-pension-fund-buying-stocks-election-slump Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:23:34 +0000 Principal Group to buy HSBC's Mexican pension business <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - The Principal Group will acquire HSBC's Mexican pension fund business for $198m. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2042733/principal-hsbc-mexican-pension-business https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2042733/principal-hsbc-mexican-pension-business Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:15:16 +0000 Mexico to allow outside firms to help manage worker pensions <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - Mexico will allow pension operators to hire third-party firms beginning in May to help manage their investments, the chief of the country's retirement-fund regulator said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2042500/mexico-allow-outside-firms-help-manage-worker-pensions https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2042500/mexico-allow-outside-firms-help-manage-worker-pensions Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:07:27 +0000 Mexican pension assets hit 1.4trn pesos <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - Mexican pension funds hit 1.4trn pesos ($118bn) at the end of March, figures from the Comisión Nacional del Sistema de Ahorro (Consar), the pensions regulator, show. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2040946/mexican-pension-assets-hit-14trn-pesos https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2040946/mexican-pension-assets-hit-14trn-pesos Wed, 6 Apr 2011 11:11:00 +0000 Ecuador pension fund to trim Government bond purchases <p><!--summary start--> ECUADOR - Ecuador's public pension fund, the nation's biggest institutional investor, will limit purchases of government debt to about 30% of the $1bn set aside this year as rising oil prices trim the country's budget gap. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2039015/ecuador-pension-fund-trim-government-bond-purchases https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2039015/ecuador-pension-fund-trim-government-bond-purchases Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:22:27 +0000 PDVSA to guarantee pension fund investments lost in US fraud <p><!--summary start--> VENEZUELA - Petroleos de Venezuela will cover losses suffered by the company's pension fund when it invested in an alleged Ponzi scheme in the US, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2037820/pdvsa-guarantee-pension-fund-investments-lost-fraud https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2037820/pdvsa-guarantee-pension-fund-investments-lost-fraud Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:23:10 +0000 AFP Integra targets smaller miners as Peru stock gains ease <p><!--summary start--> PERU - AFP Integra SA, manager of Peru's second-largest private pension fund, plans to increase investment in smaller mining companies as well as the consumer goods industry as growth in returns from Peruvian stocks slows. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2033889/afp-integra-targets-miners-peru-stock-gains-ease https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2033889/afp-integra-targets-miners-peru-stock-gains-ease Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:28:55 +0000 Chilean funds fall on equity returns <p><!--summary start--> CHILE - Chilean pension funds reported $145bn in assets at the end of February, though most took a hit for the month because of low equity returns. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2033566/chilean-funds-fall-equity-returns https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2033566/chilean-funds-fall-equity-returns Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:06:34 +0000 Korean fund to buy stake in Brazil mining firm <p><!--summary start--> 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. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2030448/korean-fund-stake-brazil-mining-firm https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2030448/korean-fund-stake-brazil-mining-firm Thu, 3 Mar 2011 13:59:00 +0000 Mexican pension funds in a charm offensive <p><!--summary start--> Rodrigo Amaral speaks to the executive chairman of Mexico's private pensions association Oscar Franco about his quest to convince Mexicans to save for the future <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1063183/mexican-pension-funds-charm-offensive https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1063183/mexican-pension-funds-charm-offensive Mon, 7 Feb 2011 16:43:00 +0000 Chile's Pension Reserve Fund gains investment leeway <p><!--summary start--> CHILE - Chile's $4bn Pension Reserve Fund has received the okay to make maiden investments in global equities and global corporate bonds, as well as in four new currencies, the Ministry of Finance said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011468/chile-pension-reserve-fund-gains-investment-leeway https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011468/chile-pension-reserve-fund-gains-investment-leeway Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:25:23 +0000 Mexico pension funds record 1.38trn pesos AUM in December <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - Government-regulated pension funds, the nation's biggest institutional investors, reported 1.38trn pesos($113bn) under management in December, figures show. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1935344/mexico-pension-funds-record-138trn-pesos-aum-december https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1935344/mexico-pension-funds-record-138trn-pesos-aum-december Thu, 6 Jan 2011 14:36:00 +0000 Peru pension funds to cut local stocks, Profuturo CEO predicts <p><!--summary start--> PERU - Peru's pension funds will cut local stock holdings to buy Chilean and Colombian shares as exchanges in the three nations move toward integration, said Mariano Paz Soldan, chief executive officer of pension fund Profuturo AFP. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1898303/peru-pension-funds-cut-local-stocks-profuturo-ceo-predicts https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1898303/peru-pension-funds-cut-local-stocks-profuturo-ceo-predicts Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:19:00 +0000 Mexico may let pension funds invest in commodities <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - Mexico may allow pension funds, the nation's biggest institutional investors, to tap global commodities that are trading at near two-year highs. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1896006/mexico-pension-funds-invest-commodities https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1896006/mexico-pension-funds-invest-commodities Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:03:42 +0000 Chile raises international investment limit <p><!--summary start--> CHILE - The Central Bank of Chile has raised the amount of assets pension funds can invest internationally to 80% from 60%. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1021130/chile-raises-international-investment-limit https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1021130/chile-raises-international-investment-limit Fri, 5 Nov 2010 12:36:11 +0000 Colombia's pension fund market <p><!--summary start--> Rodrigo Amaral asks whether Colombia's new government will continue with vital pension reforms <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1740343/colombia-pension-fund-market https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1740343/colombia-pension-fund-market Mon, 4 Oct 2010 14:23:00 +0000 South Korea NPS to invest $300m in Americas real estate <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH KOREA/US - South Korea's National Pension Service has hired The Townsend Group to invest $300m in real estate in North and South America. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011686/south-korea-nps-invest-usd300m-americas-real-estate https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011686/south-korea-nps-invest-usd300m-americas-real-estate Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:37:42 +0000 CalPERS commits $190m to Brazil property fund <p><!--summary start--> US/BRAZIL - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) has committed $190m to a $200m Brazilian real estate fund. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1022499/calpers-commits-usd190m-brazil-property-fund https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1022499/calpers-commits-usd190m-brazil-property-fund Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:21:08 +0000 Peru's international investment limit lifted again <p><!--summary start--> PERU - Peru's central bank has increased the amount pension funds can invest in international assets by two percentage points to 30% of their overall portfolios. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1017867/peru-international-investment-limit-lifted https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1017867/peru-international-investment-limit-lifted Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:34:47 +0000 The road to Latin America <p><!--summary start--> Latin American pension funds are pounding the pavement looking for local infrastructure deals. Rodrigo Amaral reports <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1731078/-road-latin-america https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1731078/-road-latin-america Fri, 3 Sep 2010 15:13:00 +0000 Chile debt drought pushes pension fund foreign assets to record levels <p><!--summary start--> CHILE - Chilean pension funds are boosting holdings of foreign bonds to record levels after a dearth of local corporate sales pushed yields to a two-year low. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011502/chile-debt-drought-pushes-pension-fund-foreign-assets-record-levels https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1011502/chile-debt-drought-pushes-pension-fund-foreign-assets-record-levels Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:08:00 +0000 Argentina's lawmakers approve pensions increase <p><!--summary start--> ARGENTINA - Argentina's lower house approved an opposition-backed bill to boost the country's minimum monthly pension payments and link them to the minimum wage, a move the government said would bankrupt the current system. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1019477/argentina-lawmakers-approve-pensions-increase https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1019477/argentina-lawmakers-approve-pensions-increase Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:25:00 +0000 Oklahoma Firefighters fund sues Southern Copper over merger <p><!--summary start--> US/MEXICO/PERU - Southern Copper, the largest producer of copper in Mexico and Peru, has been was sued by the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System over fears investors will be shortchanged in a proposed merger. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1017727/oklahoma-firefighters-fund-sues-southern-copper-merger https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1017727/oklahoma-firefighters-fund-sues-southern-copper-merger Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:17:00 +0000 Mexican schemes return 14.8% over first half of year <p><!--summary start--> MEXICO - The Mexican Association of Administrators of Retirement Funds (Amafore) recorded profits of 2.6% in June, achieving a cumulative average of 6.6% in annualised terms. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1727923/mexican-schemes-return-147-half https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1727923/mexican-schemes-return-147-half Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:30:00 +0000 Habitat controller sells shares at 435 pesos on Chile exchange <p><!--summary start--> CHILE - The controlling shareholder of AFP Habitat SA sold 140 million shares, or a 14% stake, in the pension fund manager at 435 pesos each, according to data posted by the Santiago exchange. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1727781/habitat-controller-sells-shares-435-pesos-chile-exchange https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1727781/habitat-controller-sells-shares-435-pesos-chile-exchange Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:03:00 +0000