Institutional Investors Post Nearly 25% Loss in 2008

A news release said Taft Hartley funds with assets greater than $1 billion saw the worst returns at -27.49% for the year and -15.59% for the fourth quarter,

The median performance of all master trusts for the year ended December 31, 2008, according to Wilshire data, was -24.54% with a quarterly return of – 12.83%. The median performance of corporate pension plans was -25.85% for the year and -13.09% for the quarter, while public pension funds median performance was -24.91% for the year and -13.18% for the third quarter.

The one-year median performance for foundations and endowments was -26.19% and the quarterly performance was -13.82%. The quarterly median return for all Taft Hartley funds was -11.77% with the one-year at -21.47%.

The median rates of return for all master trusts and public pension plans with assets greater than $5 billion were close at -26.15% and -26.18%, respectively, for the year. Public plans reported a median quarterly performance of -13.71% and all master trusts reported -13.68%.

Wilshire TUCS includes nearly 1,200 plans representing $2.55 trillion in assets.