Sovereign wealth fund (SWF)
IMF calls on top state funds to make the rules
The International Monetary Fund has called on sovereign wealth funds in Singapore, Norway and Abu Dhabi to develop a set of benchmarks for transparency.
New SWF event to be held in London
Whether being portrayed as villains for their opacity and secrecy, or as saviours for shoring up the capital bases of some of the biggest investment banks, sovereign wealth funds have seldom been off the front page of late.
Merrill confirms Kuwaiti and Korean involvement
The Kuwait Investment Authority and Korean Investment Corporation became the two latest sovereign wealth funds to capitalise on banks' subprime losses, buying into Merrill Lynch, an investment bank.
Kuwait SWF set to make move on Wall Street
The Kuwait Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund, may be about to invest billions in Merrill Lynch and Citigroup, two of the biggest casualties of the subprime crisis.
Top European politicians attack SWFs
Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, on Saturday criticised the hypocrisy of sovereign wealth funds which are keen to buy foreign firms but disallow outside ownership in their own economies. His comments followed those of Charlie McCreevy, an EU…
Saudi must diversify investments, says top bank
The National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia's largest state bank, has called on the government to set up a sovereign wealth fund to cut the country's exposure to the greenback. The central bank should also look at de-pegging the riyal from the dollar.
SWFs investment in banks: an alarming trend?
In the wake of the credit crunch banks' capital cushions have deflated dangerously. And, in response, some have turned to one group of investors untouched by subprime credit or by mark-to-market reporting requirements: sovereign wealth funds (SWFs)…
Pacific Island SWFs hampered by mismanagement
Little integration with budgets, institutional weaknesses and inadequate controls have hindered the performance of sovereign wealth funds run by the authorities in Pacific Island countries, research published by the International Monetary Fund finds.
Kuwaiti SWF could be next to invest on Wall Street
Bader Al-Sa'ad, the head of Kuwait Investment Authority, the state's sovereign wealth fund, indicated that his could be the next fund to inject funds into a finance industry clawing for capital in the aftermath of the subprime crisis.
Singapore SWF could invest $5 billion in US bank
Temasek, the Singapore finance ministry's sovereign wealth fund, could be the latest fund to cash in on Wall Street's subprime losses by injecting as much as $5 billion into Merrill Lynch in exchange for what could amount to a 10% stake in the American…
China SWF invests $5 billion in Morgan Stanley
The China Investment Corporation (CIC) became the latest sovereign wealth fund to capitalise on commercial banks' subprime losses on Wednesday, injecting $5 billion into Morgan Stanley, an American financial services group. The deal could lead to CIC…
SWF stakes should be limited: SNB's Hildebrand
Sovereign wealth funds' stakes in foreign companies must be significantly below the threshold of a controlling minority to avoid a resurgence of state ownership, said Philipp Hildebrand, the vice chairman of the Swiss National Bank.
SWFs would follow private equity guidelines
Sovereign wealth funds would be willing to enter into the voluntary code of conduct set out in the Walker Review, an influential report on private equity governance standards and transparency, the author says.
Canada spells out SWF requirements
The Canadian government will block investment by state-owned enterprises, such as sovereign wealth funds, unless corporate governance and commercial standards are adhered to.
GIC could get 9% UBS stake from $9.8 billion loan
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), a sovereign wealth fund, on Monday said that its Sfr11 billion ($9.8 billion) investment in UBS, the bank, could lead to it acquiring as much as a 9% stake in the company.
SEC's Cox warns on SWF state ownership
The fundamental question on sovereign wealth funds does not concern the advisability of foreign ownership, but rather of government ownership, says Christopher Cox, the head of the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC).
Japanese lawmakers want $100 billion SWF
Japanese politicians from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party want to start a $100 billion sovereign wealth fund in order to improve returns on foreign exchange reserves.
UK moves to encourage SWF investment
The British authorities on Tuesday launched a charm offensive in a bid to coax sovereign wealth funds to invest in UK business.
Norway's oil fund avoids FX after recent losses
The Bank of Norway said it would not buy foreign exchange for its sovereign wealth fund, the Government Pension Fund, in December. The announcement follows news that Nkr104.4 billion ($18.9 billion) was knocked off the value of the fund, a store of the…
Abu Dhabi SWF invests $7.5 billion in Citigroup
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund, has bought an equity stake in Citigroup, the world's biggest bank, of up to 4.9% for $7.5 billion it emerged on Monday.
Norway's oil fund makes a loss in third quarter
The market value of Norway's sovereign wealth fund fell in the third quarter, hit by the global financial turmoil and appreciation of the krone. However, the value of the fund passed Nkr2 trillion ($369 billion) for the first time in October.
Russia plays safe with fund investment
Russia's Oil Stabilisation Fund will stick to investing in highly-rated bonds until the fund's restructuring is complete early next year, officials said on Thursday.
US Treasury official voices SWF stability fears
Sovereign wealth funds pose a threat to financial stability, says David McCormick, the under secretary for international affairs at the US Treasury.
SWFs more likely to diversify than central banks
Sovereign wealth funds are much more aggressive in diversifying foreign exchange assets than central banks, says Mansoor Mohi-uddin, the managing director of foreign exchange strategy at UBS, a leading investment bank.