Investment today centres around the capital markets: that is, stock and bond markets, and currency, property and derivatives markets. Many actuaries are involved in day-to-day activity in these markets (on behalf of their clients or employers), whilst others advise on the longer-term characteristics and implications of different investment stances. Actuaries also advise on selecting agents such as fund managers, and on the limits of discretion to be given to those agents.

Want to know more?

• The Profession's involvement with Stock Market indices [pdf]. Sep 2003
• Investment strategy for the actuarial profession [pdf]. Jul 1999 
• Portfolio risk measurement and reporting standard by Malcolm Kemp [pdf]. Jan 2000 
• Response to the 21st century investment inquiry [pdf]. 12 Jun 2003
• IPD. IPD is a global information business, dedicated to the supply of independent market indices and portfolio benchmarks to the property industry.

We would welcome your comment on any index-related topic. Please email Mark Symons at mark.symons@actuaries.org.uk