Sovereign wealth fund (SWF)
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.
UK business group backs SWF rules
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the United Kingdom's largest business association, has said that sovereign wealth funds should be subject to the same code of self regulation that is being proposed for private equity firms.
The rise of SWFs is unstoppable
Western governments must accept the rise of sovereign wealth funds as a further sign of a shift in the world economy, according to Gerard Lyons, the chief economist at Standard Chartered, a bank.
SWF growth necessitates political action
Governments must formulate policy on sovereign wealth funds because the amount of state assets under management is likely to shoot up in coming years.
German sovereign wealth rules "lean and liberal"
Germany's planned legislation to limit investment by sovereign wealth funds will allow foreign funds to buy banks, media companies and consumer industries, but not in the energy sector.
SWFs must follow market rules - Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the leading candidate to become the new managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has said sovereign wealth funds should follow standard market rules and believes the Fund has a role to play in overseeing them.
Singaporean wealth fund warns of protectionism
One of Singapore's state investment companies, Temasek Holdings, says it is concerned about the threat of protectionist backlash against sovereign wealth funds.
Gieve warns of losing inflation battle
John Gieve, a deputy governor at the Bank of England, has warned that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) could lose the battle against inflation if it took a more gradual approach to raising interest rates.
India mulls sovereign wealth fund
The government of India has decided to set up a "wholesale banking company" - its own version of a sovereign wealth fund - in a separate country with a mature financial system, according to reports in the Indian media.
Minister hints at Japanese wealth fund
Japan's Financial Services Minister said on 29 June that the country should debate whether to set up a fund to manage its foreign currency reserves.
IMF worried about wealth fund obscurity
The International Monetary Fund has added its voice to the growing number of international financial institutions and public policy entities calling for greater transparency in the activities of sovereign wealth funds.