March Fund Returns Head North

April 12, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Some 86% of funds gained ground in March, according to performance figures compiled by Morningstar Canada.

The number stands in stark contrast to the 23% and 59% of the funds that made money for investors in the January and February respectively.

The median fund in Canada gained 2.8% last month compared to a 0.2% return the previous month. According to data from Morningstar Canada, median returns in the top performing categories were:

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news.

  • Precious Metals, the median fund in this category returning 8%,
  • Natural Resources, where the median fund posted a 6.8%
  • Japanese Equity, 6.5%
  • US Small and Mid Cap Equity, 6.4%, and
  • Science and Technology 6.4%

In comparison, funds bringing up the rear in terms of performance were primarily in the fixed income asset class. Over the month:

  • the Canadian Bond category came in last, with a median return of -1.9%,
  • the Foreign Bond category posted a median return of -1.5%, while
  • the median return in the Canadian Short Term Bond category was -1.3%


 

Companies Step up Benefits

April 11, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Even though it is getting more expensive to do so, virtually all employers participating in a recent survey say they offer employee health-care benefits.

Some 99% of the respondents to the survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) said they provided health coverage through a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO), Indemnity, or Defined Contribution plan.

Employers said they’ve increased the following benefits:

Get more!  Sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters.

  • 95% listed prescription drugs
  • 73% listed vision coverage
  • 58% cited a wellness program
  • 48% mentioned a well-baby program
  • 28% listed a gym subsidy
  • 21% cited cancer insurance

In other types of employee benefits, 33% of respondents offer paid or unpaid time off to volunteer. Some 35% give employees more leave than required for military service.

The SHRM survey of 551 HR professionals tracked 187 benefits offered by employers.

 


 

«