2008

The global financial crisis in 2008 presented major challenges to all parts of the portfolio of the Government Pension Fund – Global. The results for the year were the weakest in the fund’s history and have led to a number of changes.

“The third quarter of 2008 was an unusually demanding quarter for the management of the Government Pension Fund – Global. Uncertainty in financial markets increased dramatically, and this affected the return on the fund,” says Yngve Slyngstad, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM).

“The second quarter featured considerable volatility in both equity markets and parts of fixed income markets,” says Yngve Slyngstad, Executive Director of Norges Bank Investment Management, NBIM. “The crisis in the financial system continued, with international financial institutions reporting heavy losses. Lower growth and accelerating inflation led to lower corporate earnings expectations.”

The first quarter of 2008 was dominated by the financial turmoil that began with problems in the US mortgage market in early 2007 and subsequently developed into a wider crisis in parts of the financial system. Equity markets fell sharply during the quarter, while fixed income markets generated a positive return.

.