LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to the expanding and increasingly sophisticated risk management needs of institutional investors, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) has enhanced its ex-ante – or ‘forward looking’ – investment risk reporting capabilities. Pension funds, for example, now have access to broader and deeper risk analysis including more integration between analysis of investment risks and the impact they may have on the fund’s ability to meet its liabilities at a future point in time.

“We believe that these enhancements present our analysis of essential risk information in a clear and actionable format”

“Our next generation risk reporting services have been developed to provide our clients with increased risk awareness which will facilitate better investment decisions,” said Ian Castledine, global head of Investment Risk and Compliance Product for Northern Trust. “A key step forward has been made in bringing together the analysis of investment risks and their impact on a pension fund’s ability to meet its changing liabilities over time in a single report, rather than looking at the two dynamics in isolation. The enhancements also offer clients an improved user experience with more informative graphics and intuitive visual information.”

The enhancements focus on:

• Asset liability reporting: Northern Trust’s analytics model both assets and liabilities and the data is brought together in one report to show comparisons of risk levels and potential risk mismatch alongside the managed assets. This means that it is possible to look at how investment risks would impact funding levels and the ability of a fund to meet its liabilities over time, as well as how changes in liabilities may open up opportunities to reassess investment decisions. This aims to aid clients in making informed decisions about more sophisticated liability management solutions. Clients can see at a glance how risks compare between assets and liabilities and understand potential mismatch risks.
• Asset allocation: Enhanced active allocation and risk contribution reporting allows clients to gain a deeper insight into their exposures on an asset class, region and sector basis, or manager selection decisions, and strengthens overall risk awareness. This tool can help clients understand the risks associated with deviating from their stated target asset allocation.
• Trend analysis: Broader trend analysis offers clients greater awareness of the context in which current risks exist, facilitating enhanced risk mitigation strategies. Improved graphics enable clients to better understand historical volatility trends and how these relate to global market events and the evolving investment landscape.

“We believe that these enhancements present our analysis of essential risk information in a clear and actionable format,” said Castledine. “Equally important, our risk reports, combined with the support of one of our expert consultants, can help create an effective dialogue around the investment process facilitating discussions between asset owners and their chosen investment professionals.”

Northern Trust has provided risk and performance services to institutional asset servicing clients for more than 30 years. Capabilities delivered through the IRAS group include risk monitoring, performance evaluation and compliance services. Northern Trust provides custody, fund administration, and investment operations outsourcing solutions to investment managers and institutional clients, including insurance companies, worldwide and across the spectrum of asset classes.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, banking solutions and fiduciary services for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a financial holding company based in Chicago, has offices in 18 U.S. states and 17 international locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of June 30, 2013, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$5.0 trillion, and assets under investment management of US$803.0 billion. For more than 120 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining exceptional service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit www.northerntrust.com or follow us on Twitter @NorthernTrust.

Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Global legal and regulatory information can be found at http://www.northerntrust.com/disclosures