Canadian Pensions See Slight Gain in Q2 2011

Within the $340 billion RBC Dexia universe, Canadian pension assets rose 0.2% in the three months ending June 2011, nudging year-to-date performance to 2.2%. “Concerns over the resilience of the U.S. recovery and the European debt crisis sparked a correction-like pull back, but a late quarter rebound softened the blow,” said Don McDougall, Director of Advisory Services for RBC Dexia, in a press release.  

Canadian equity was the hardest hit asset class in the quarter as the S&P TSX Composite index dropped 5.2%, wiping out nearly all March quarter gains. “Lower commodity prices adversely affected the top heavy energy and materials sectors. The technology sector was also hit, the most dramatic being Research in Motion, which fell 49% over this period,” noted McDougall. “The good news is that most pensions were underexposed to both the Materials and Energy sectors and this contributed to their outperformance against the market by 0.4%. Year-to-date, pensions are up 0.2%—in line with the S&P TSX benchmark.”  

Foreign stocks remained in positive territory thanks to active management as Canadian plans gained 0.1% in the quarter against a 0.3% drop in the MSCI World index. Year-to-date results show pensions up 2.1% in Canadian dollar terms for this asset class.   

Bonds provided needed support, earning 2.8% in the quarter despite a late June sell-off. McDougall added: “As inflationary fears subdued and a slower global growth scenario emerged, strength came from the longer end of the curve with long-term bonds advancing by 3.9% versus 2.5% for the DEX Universe bond index.”