Danish pension fund sells off US Treasury holdings
The $25bn AkademikerPension fund is selling off its US Treasury holdings, a decision it insists is rooted in the American government’s “poor” finances rather than geopolitics
Debate over US tech concentration fuels demand for multi-factor equity strategies
European asset owners are grappling with the “concentration risk” in portfolios towards US technology and AI businesses in the S&P 500
Why are US asset owners investing in sports?
The NFL recently opened-up minority stake ownership in its teams to institional investors, which has prompted some asset owners to dip their toes into the sport. What’s the thinking behind asset owners getting involved in sport?
‘Forced’ pooling of pensions goes down badly in England and Wales
UK local government pension schemes are being ‘essentially forced’ to pool their management ahead of the April 1 deadline - but not everyone is happy about it
Wellcome Trust CIO on avoiding concentration and the risks of the growing private equity market
Fabian Thehos, the co-chief investment officer of the Wellcome Trust, has warned about the growing level of concentration in the US market - particularly around tech - and he explains to AOX what the trust is doing about it
How European regulations are transforming family offices
Evolving governance requirements around private transactions, such as the EU’s 2024 package of anti-money laundering regulations, are steering families towards more institutional investment practices
European asset owners look to Korea and Taiwan amid wider EM diversification push
China, Taiwan and South Korea have driven the MSCI Emerging Markets index to deliver double-digit returns and outpace the MSCI World index which has prompted European asset owners to look at these opportunities
Are defence stocks an ESG asset now?
A combination of Donald Trump’s pestering and nervousness about America’s reliability as an ally - including concern Greenland might follow the fate of Venezuela - has prompted European nations to increase the amount they spend on defence. Does that mean asset owners view defence as an attractive investment opportunity? And could it even be defined as an ESG asset?
How have allocations changed among the biggest asset owners?
Around the world, asset owners are finding alternatives increasingly attractive, with one exception: North America, where fixed income is increasingly the flavour of the month
What can Australia and the Netherlands teach us about pension consolidation?
As the UK government pushes for pension scheme consolidation, dreaming of economies of scale and a dearth of domestic private investment, we look at the Netherlands and Australia for clues as to what that might look like
New York City’s tussle with BlackRock over ESG turns ugly
Outgoing New York City comptroller Brad Lander has told the city’s pension systems to fire BlackRock over its climate track record. This has not gone down well with the world’s largest asset manager
UK regulator publishes proposals to regulate crypto
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has published proposed rules on cryptoassets which it says are the most comprehensive regime globally
Infrastructure proves attractive for European investors as inflows hit $8.8bn in Q3
The growing need for green infrastructure in the UK and across Europe is driving large-scale investors like Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global and the Australian-owned IFM Investors into projects - with family offices also joining the party
Who, if anyone, is still buying hedge funds?
Appetite for hedge funds has been strongest among European asset owners, so far in 2025, while those in other regions seem less keen
Brazil’s wealth managers turn defensive as family offices abroad double down on risk
Brazil’s family offices are moving in the opposite direction of their North American peers. While US investors pile into private credit and AI-driven growth, Brazilian wealth managers are building buffers, expanding exposure to fixed income, tax-exempt bonds, and government bonds
Are private Reits 'hotel California' for US asset owners?
Many US asset owners are crowding into sectors which have seen strong demand: medical offices, self-storage and care homes and are wary of traditional office space
Do asset owners think we are in an AI bubble?
Nvidia, which makes the chips which power AI and which is at the forefront of the boom, has seen its share price go up 290 per cent over the past two years, leaving most market indices in the dust. So does that mean a bubble is forming?
What happens as DB pensions unwind the ‘frightening’ amount of gilts they own?
Steve Hodder, a partner at LCP, said the proportion of the gilt market owned by defined benefit schemes was “quite frightening” - particularly given the number of DB schemes closing and the large amount of buy-out activity
Did COP30 move the dial for climate finance investment by asset owners?
According to Antonina Scheer of the Transition Pathway Initiative, one of the big wins of the COP30 summit was the lack of backsliding on climate finance after the US pulled out of the Paris Agreement
Charities feeling financial squeeze demand more proactive asset management
Increasing running costs, turbulent global markets and declining voluntary incomes are putting charitable organisations under more financial pressure than ever, driving them to rethink the role of their investment portfolios