“This previous quarter and yr have been undoubtedly a interval enfolded in a blanket of volatility. However the waves of uncertainty all year long, a deal with geopolitical and financial tendencies has been paramount for pension plans. As monetary markets turned their consideration to financial information driving their underlying pulse and tempo, plan sponsors have more and more adopted complicated asset methods that improve portfolio diversification and drive long run sustainability of their funding applications. Understanding and navigating the present and future tendencies is a key constructing block to wholesome retirement plans,” mentioned Katie Pries, president and CEO of Northern Belief Canada.
Among the many highlights for Canadian pension plans within the fourth quarter of 2023 have been an 8.1% acquire for the S&P/TSX Composite Index (up 11.8% for the yr) led by IT, and an 8.9% quarterly acquire for the S&P 500 within the US (in Canadian greenback phrases), led by actual property and IT.
There have been additionally positive aspects for worldwide (the MSCI EAFE Index was up 7.7% in Canadian greenback phrases) and rising markets (the MSCI Rising Markets Index rose 5.3% in Canadian greenback phrases).
The Canadian mounted earnings market, as measured by the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index, superior 8.3% for the quarter and 6.7% for the yr. This was pushed by outperformance of provincial bonds whereas company bonds have been the highest performer for the yr. Long run bonds led efficiency for the quarter advancing 14.8% and outpaced quick and mid-term bonds for the yr.
