Keynote
Inflation in much of the developed world may be slowly retreating from post-GFC highs and many central banks have begun easing monetary policy. The trajectory of other economic drivers including GDP growth are less clear. With the ongoing war in Ukraine continuing to impact food and energy prices, a pivotal US election just a month away and many other areas of geopolitical tension, we examine the potential impacts on the global economic scenario, and what this may mean for investors.

Iceland’s pensions investors are navigating a complicated scenario, as markets move from risk to uncertainty. In addition to coping with higher-for-longer interest rates, investors face many other challenges. A well-respected academic researcher will focus on investment topics including:

• Redefining the core satellite model
• Seeking returns via thematic investing
• Going from quantity to quality in ESG investing
• Blending multiple asset classes to meet multiple goals
• Upgrading the manager selection criteria

Fund Manager Investment Insight
A presentation on capital markets assumptions for more than 20 asset classes, including listed and unlisted, regular asset classes and alternatives.

When it comes to finding the right balance of fixed income assets – what does the optimal mix look like in the current environment? As interest rates come down and default rates rise – will high-yield hold out or should asset owners be favouring the relative safety of investment grade bonds? Where does the cross-over space sit in the equation? What does a robust, resilient, diversified, and dynamic allocation to fixed income look like? 

Scientists believe we have only six years left to halve emissions by 2030 and keep below 1.5°C of warming compared to preindustrial levels. While progress has been made and 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions are now covered by net zero pledges, emissions are still rising instead of falling and we are on a path towards a 2.7ºC world. With $50 trillion assets the global pensions sector can substantively fund solutions to the climate crisis, or equally, can accelerate it. 

Pension schemes are understanding how addressing sustainability-related crises falls within their fiduciary duty. Challenges remain in fully integrating sustainability into strategic and investment decision-making processes, including lack of credible and decision-useful data, the short-termism of investment approaches, inertia and anti-ESG sentiment. 

A key challenge for portfolio managers is how to protect investments against inflation risk. Implemented correctly, commodities and infrastructure can be part of a portfolio’s defence. One of the Nordic region’s most influential investors will explain this in detail. 

Fund Manager Investment Insight
More investors are now focusing on the middle market, looking for differentiated strategies and a more operationally hands-on approach to value creation. With case studies from the education sector, Morgan Stanley's Managing Director, David Thompson brings the dynamics of working directly with founders to life.

The Dutch pension system has been radically reformed to address the changing needs of the nation. We’ll take a deep dive into the design of the new system focusing on learnings from its re-design from one of its architects.

Since the Cold War, geopolitics has redefined European security and stability with every regional conflict impacting global politics and economies. The current Russia/Ukraine war is no exception. But could the current situation permanently destabilise Europe? And what could the effect of a long-term war mean for pensions investors? 

Labour market trends, birthrate changes, immigration and the climate transition will all impact the Nordic region in the years to come. An author of the 20th biennial ‘State of the Nordic Region’ report discusses shifting demographic patterns in this part of the world.