NCPERS News Clips

11/24/2009

Recording the Gains

The first five stories tell of invest gains at public plans as the market has enjoyed a bull market since the lows of March. In March the Dow closed at 6,547 and the S&P 500 closed at 684. Now, the Dow and S&P 500 are over 10,400 and 1,100 respectively. As long-term investors we know we shouldn't get too excited about where the market is on any given day. However, it feels far better to hear positive news that negative. Lastly, before we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, don't forget to register for the NCPERS Legislative Conference held February 7-9, 2010 in Washington, DC. To register for the 2010 Annual Legislative Conference visit www.NCPERS.org/legconf. Happy Thanksgiving!

• Stock market improves SD trust fund payouts
  With the stock market gains the South Dakota Retirement System's assets have gained 16.6 percent since July 1, a substantial improvement from the 20 percent it lost in the previous year.
• Stanislaus County retirement system starting to recover from losses
  The Stanislaus County Employees' Retirement Association has started to show signs of recovery from the stock market downturn and other problems of the past two years.
• Retirement System Records Gains
  The rising stock market has raised the value of the Arkansas Public Retirement System's investments.
• MOSERS: State employees' retirement fund solid
  The Missouri State Employee Retirement System has taken some hits along with other investors during the economic downturn, but says its portfolios are solid and Missouri state workers' retirement funds are safe and doing well.
• Mo. school retirement system posts 10.25% return
  The Public School and Education Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri (PSRS/PEERS) reported a 10.25 percent return on its investments for the quarter ended Sept. 30.
• Florida to seek more disclosure on pension placement agents
  Investment companies bidding to advise Florida's $107 billion public pension fund, the fourth-largest in the United States, will have to disclose more about their arrangements with the middlemen known as placement agents under proposed rules.
• Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS)
  There has been considerable discussion in recent months regarding the long term solvency of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. Glen Deck, Executive Director, provided an update to our Appropriations Committee in August of this year.
• State's pension plan too expensive
  Although most of the attention to Gov. Haley Barbour's budget proposals this week has been on his controversial recommendations to consolidate universities and public school districts, there were other important elements tucked inside the 27-page document that have yet to get much attention.
• Cities' Firefighters and Police Have $636M Unfunded
  A bill to relieve cities of some of the burden of their combined $636 million unfunded police and firefighter pension liabilities began making its way through the Legislature on Tuesday.
• Brownsberger: Simplifying public employee pensions
  What's wrong with the public pension system? Above all, it's too complicated. Complexity creates abuses and inequities. It also makes the system hard to evaluate and undermines confidence in the system.
• CalPERS official seeks legislation to regulate placement agents
  The president of the California Public Employees' Retirement System's board of administration is asking for legislation that would get strict with placement agents.
• N.J. pension padding, again: A chance for Gov.-elect Chris Christie to send a message
  New Jersey's overfed political establishment gathers today in Atlantic City, where it will hear a speech from the governor-elect, Chris Christie. What a perfect opportunity for Christie to fire a bullet at them over pension abuses to signal that the party is over.
• Oregon board juggles ways to lessen retirement costs
  Board members of Oregon's Public Employees Retirement System said Friday they are disinclined to change the system's rules to alleviate the impact of skyrocketing employer contribution costs in 2011.
• Change public employee pensions
  For decades, New Hampshire lawmakers and employers alike saved money by shortchanging the retirement system that funds pensions and in some cases health care subsidies, for state, city, town and school district employees.
• Investors push SEC on climate-risk disclosure
  Pension funds and other investors holding more than $1 trillion of assets renewed their call to U.S. regulators on Monday to require companies to disclose climate-related risks.
• Local control: The city's real agenda may be financial
  The issue of local control of the St. Louis Police Department has burst on the scene again. Over the last several years, the city's administration has introduced legislation to return control of the department to the city, publicly saying there would be no attempt or desire to seek local control of the Police Retirement System of St. Louis.