Lingering inflation and ongoing talks over the debt limit are still in play, which may impact defined benefit plans, endowments & foundations, and high net worth plans.

The April factor performance data is in and Quality, Yield and Dividend Growth stocks outperformed.

Defined Benefit plans in the Investment Metrics Plan Sponsor Universes posted a median net return of 4.47% for the first quarter of 2023.

Our latest report examines factor performance data from Style Analytics, a part of Confluence.

Investment Metrics, a Confluence company, reviewed the 2022 institutional net flows report to highlight some important developments.

A year after the Federal Reserve officially began raising rates at record pace, inflation still persists worldwide. While we saw a strong January, equities slid last month as the Fed announced rate increases would be higher than anticipated.

In Investment Metrics’ June 2021 research we assessed if there has been any movement in the representation of female portfolio managers at asset management firms. Unfortunately, the short answer was no

While active managers underperformed in 2022’s down market, some managers did yield positive returns over the past three years.

Defined benefit plan performance ended 2022 favorably, with a Q4 median return of 5.18%—finally breaking its negative performance streak from the past three quarters.

Equities rebounded worldwide in January, with investor behavior showing signs of optimism surrounding falling inflation. Indices around the world were up, natural gas and oil prices fell and even Bitcoin spiked after six months of losses.

Most professionals evaluate portfolios using factors. But making selections based on a single factor does not tell the full story.

The current market environment is now driving regulators to further increase emphasis on liquidity reporting and stress testing across the industry, is your firm ready?