The fund is the largest single owner in the world’s stock markets. and is broadly invested across countries, sectors and currencies. It holds shares, bonds and real estate all around the world, but invests only abroad so that the Norwegian economy does not overheat.
The equity investments are spread across 9,000 companies to capture global value creation and diversify risk as best possible. Up to 70 percent of the fund can be invested in equities.
We invest in high-quality real estate in a limited number of major cities and global distribution networks. Up to 7 percent of the fund can be invested in unlisted real estate.
The fixed-income investments are allocated bonds issued by governments and related institutions and securities issued by companies. Up to 30 percent of the fund can be invested in fixed-income.
The Ministry of Finance decides the overall investment strategy for the fund. Material changes are anchored in the Norwegian Parliament. The fund strategy is expressed through the management mandate to Norges Bank. The mandate defines a benchmark index based on indices from external providers, and puts certain constrains and requirements on us as the operational manager. There are investment opportunities available that will improve the diversification of the fund beyond what can be achieved through the benchmark index. We have created a reference portfolio that serves as a starting point for our investment strategies. These strategies are complementary and tailored to the fund's unique characteristics:
The aim is to improve the fund's market and risk exposure in the long term through a reference portfolio more adapted to the fund characteristics than the benchmark index.
The aim is to achieve excess return compared to relevant benchmarks.
We aim to generate good return over time through asset positioning and securities lending, and lowering transaction costs.
The fund’s investment decisions are based on research and analysis of the developments in financial markets and the global economy. We share internal research and analysis as well as content from conferences or seminars. We invite to dialogue and have a strong collaboration with academics, peers and practitioners with an aim to improving the investment strategy and our results.
The value of the fund may fluctuate considerably from year to year. We use a variety of measures and risk analyses to obtain the broadest possible picture of the fund's market risk.
Read more about the investments and results in the annual report on the fund.