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The solvency position of Canadian defined benefit pension plans reached their highest level since 2001 during the first quarter of 2018 before retreating in the final weeks of March. The Mercer Pension Health Index, which represents the solvency ratio of a hypothetical plan, stood at 106 per cent on March 30th, unchanged from the beginning of the year. The median solvency ratio of the pension plans of Mercer clients was 98 per cent at March 30th, up from 97 per cent at the end of 2017.
The funded position of pension plans was boosted slightly in the first quarter by a 5 basis point increase in long-term interest rates. Equity markets exhibited volatility but, for most plans, their impact on funded positions was only mildly detracting.
“The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan remains up almost 20 per cent since the November 2016 U.S. election,” said Manuel Monteiro, Leader of Mercer Canada’s Financial Strategy Group.
However, volatility returned to the equity markets in the first quarter of 2018, triggered by the prospect of higher short-term interest rates, rising geo-political tensions and, most recently, the mounting prospects of a global trade war.
The recent volatility serves as an important reminder that despite the extended bull market run we have observed in recent periods, equity markets can also move down sharply. Sponsors of closed and frozen defined benefit plans need to urgently consider whether their current risk profile makes sense given their strong financial position and the risks looming on the horizon. “We believe that many of these plans are too exposed to risk, and that their sponsors should consider moving to a lower risk asset mix or entering into an annuity transaction,” continued Monteiro. A significant reduction in risk is likely not affordable for defined benefit plans which remain open – however, these sponsors should consider opportunities to diversify their return sources, particularly through optimizing their equity portfolio and increased allocation to alternative assets.
A typical balanced pension portfolio would have declined by 0.5 per cent during the first quarter of 2018. Both the Canadian and foreign equity markets delivered negative returns over the quarter in local currency, while the fixed income market was relatively flat.
Canadian equities struggled over the first quarter, with negative performance across all sectors with the exception of Information Technology (+10.2 per cent) and Real Estate (+0.5 per cent). Despite a relatively strong earnings reporting season for TSX companies, negative market performance over the quarter was driven by uncertainty around recent NAFTA negotiations, in addition to household debt. These concerns are also apparent in the performance of the Canadian dollar, which depreciated versus the U.S. dollar over the quarter, benefiting investors that remained unhedged on foreign investments.
Broad-market Canadian fixed income was flat over the quarter except real return bonds which fared much better. Overall yields rose by 10 basis points, and long-term yields rose by 5 basis points.
Late last week, U.S. President Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China. “We have observed a heightened level of volatility in the markets over recent periods,” said Sofia Assaf, Principal and Senior Investment Consultant at Mercer Canada. “Investors are showing sensitivity to headwinds of tighter monetary policy, trade protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty and we anticipate volatility to ensue over 2018 as a result.”
U.S. equity returns were positive in CAD (2.1 per cent) but negative in USD terms (-0.8 per cent) over the quarter. The CAD depreciated against the Euro, GBP and USD over the quarter. As a result, unhedged international (EAFE) equities outperformed with a return of 1.4 per cent in CAD versus a return of -4.2 per cent in local currency. Emerging markets continued to lead foreign equity performance, returning 4.4 per cent in CAD (0.8 per cent in local currency terms) over the first quarter.
The Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve both raised rates in the first quarter of 2018 continuing on the contractionary monetary policy path. The Bank of Canada increased its target for the overnight rate to 1.25 per cent in January, while the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its target interest rate in March by a quarter percentage point to between 1.50 per cent and 1.75 per cent. March’s Federal Reserve meeting also marked the first meeting overseen by new Chairman Jerome Powell, following his appointment in February.
The Mercer Pension Health Index shows the ratio of assets to liabilities for a model pension plan. The ratio has been arbitrarily set to 100% at the beginning of the period. The new Pension Health Index assumes contributions equal to current service cost plus solvency deficit payments, and no plan improvements. The Mercer Pension Health Index assumes that valuations are filed annually on a calendar year basis and that the deficit revealed in each valuation is funded on a monthly basis over the subsequent five years.
Assets: Passive portfolio. Asset mix for periods up to December 31, 2016 of: 42.5% FTSE/TMX Universe Bond Total Return Index; 25% S&P/TSX Composite; 15% S&P 500 (CAD); 15% MSCI EAFE (CAD); 2.5% FTSE/TMX 91 day T-Bills. Asset mix for periods on or after January 1, 2017 of 42.5% FTSE/TMX Long Bond Total Return Index; 15% S&P/TSX Composite; 40% MSCI World (CAD); 2.5% FTSE/TMX 91 day T-Bills.
Liabilities: 50% active members, 50% retired members. 60% of benefits for active members assumed to be settled through commuted values based on the Canadian Institute of Actuaries transfer value standards without the one-month lag, and the remaining 40% assumed to be settled through an annuity purchase. Benefits for retired members assumed to be settled through an annuity purchase. Annuity prices determined based on the CIA guidance for the medium duration illustrative block. Results will vary by pension plan.
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Mercer delivers advice and technology-driven solutions that help organizations meet the health, wealth and career needs of a changing workforce. Mercer’s more than 22,000 employees are based in 44 countries and the firm operates in over 130 countries. Mercer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), the leading global professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. With more than 65,000 colleagues and annual revenue over $14 billion, through its market-leading companies including Marsh, Guy Carpenter and Oliver Wyman, Marsh & McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. For more information, visit www.mercer.ca. Follow Mercer on Twitter @MercerCanada.
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