Dutch investment funds have lost 4% over the third quarter, due largely to a drop in value across most asset classes, according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
In its statistical report, the regulator attributed the lion’s share of the decrease to an overall 10% loss on equity holdings.
It added that investment funds targeting emerging markets and Asia lost 17.1% and 12.9%, respectively, compared with the MSCI Emerging Markets loss of 18.9% and the MSCI World loss of 9% over the same period.
Fixed income funds and property funds reported slight positive quarterly results of 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively, according to DNB.
The regulator noted that investors increased their combined stakes in mortgages and fixed income funds, while divesting from equity and property funds.
In other news, the regulator announced that it would focus its supervision next year on the balance in pension funds’ financial set-up, as well as on the sustainability in their policies.
In particular, the regulator will assess how pension funds deal with parts of the financial assessment framework, such as “risk attitude” and the cost-covering level of contributions.
It said it would look at how pension funds execute their search for yield, adding that schemes will have to explain their considerations if changes in their investment mix increase their risk profile.
It will also continue to assess potential conflicts of interest, with a focus on networks, outsourcing and additional jobs.
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