–Assets Decreased $237 Billion or -8.5%, to $2.53 Trillion/Sept 30
–Biggest Drop Since Q4:2008;First Qtr to Qtr Decline Since 2H 2010

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the summary of the
Census Bureau’s third-quarter report on the 100 largest state and local
government retirement holdings, published Wednesday:

TOTAL HOLDINGS AND INVESTMENTS OF MAJOR PUBLIC-EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
SYSTEMS DECREASED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2010

Corporate Bonds

Corporate bonds quarter-to-quarter decreased $37.3 billion or 8.6
percent to $398.4 billion in the third quarter of 2011, down for the
second consecutive quarter. Corporate bonds year-to-year decreased $41.1
billion or 9.4 percent from $439.5 billion in the third quarter of 2010.
Corporate bonds comprised just under a sixth (15.7 percent) of the total
cash and security holdings of major public-employee retirement systems
for the current quarter.

International Securities

International securities quarter-to-quarter decreased for the first
time in over a year (since 2010:Q2), declining $74.5 billion or 14.2
percent to $448.9 billion in the third quarter of 2011. This was the
largest decline since the fourth quarter of 2008. International
securities year-to-year decreased $17.2 billion or 3.7 percent from
$466.1 billion in the third quarter of 2010. This was the first decline
following seven consecutive quarters of year-to-year increases.
International securities comprised over a sixth (17.7 percent) of the
total cash and security holdings of major public-employee retirement
systems for the current quarter.

Federal Government Securities

Federal government securities quarter-to-quarter decreased $4.4
billion or 2.4 percent to $177.8 billion in the third quarter of 2011
following three consecutive quarterly increases. Federal government
securities year-

2011 Quarter 3

For the 100 largest public-employee retirement systems in the
country, total holdings and investments were down in the third quarter
of 2011 following four consecutive quarterly increases. This decrease
was driven largely by the decreases in corporate stocks and
international securities. Total holdings and investments
quarter-to-quarter decreased $236.6 billion or 8.5 percent to $2.5
trillion. Total holdings and investments year-to-year rose $27.1 billion
or 1.1 percent, continuing the trend of year-to-year increases for the
eighth consecutive quarter. Earnings on investments were negative for
the first time in over a year (since 2010:Q2) and totaled to losses of
$198.6 billion for the third quarter of 2011.

Corporate Stocks

Holdings of corporate stocks quarter-to-quarter decreased $134.7
billion or 14.9 percent to $769.6 billion in the third quarter of 2011,
down for the second consecutive quarter. Corporate stocks year-to-year
were down $54.4 billion or 6.6 percent from $824.0 billion in the third
quarter of 2010. Corporate stocks comprised less than a third (30.4
percent) of the total cash and security holdings of major
public-employee retirement systems for the current quarter. to-year
increased $10.0 billion or 6.0 percent from $167.8 billion in the third
quarter of 2010. This was the eighth consecutive quarter with a
year-to-year increase. Federal government securities comprised 7.0
percent of the total cash and security holdings for the current quarter.

Total Contributions

Employee contributions quarter-to-quarter decreased $3.6 billion or
33.6 percent to $7.2 billion, continuing a cyclical pattern that shows
the third calendar quarter as having the lowest employee contributions
each year. Employee contributions year-to-year increased $0.4 billion or
6.0 percent from $6.8 billion in the third quarter of 2010. Government
contributions quarter-to-quarter decreased $2.8 billion or 13.4 percent
to $18.1 billion for the third quarter of 2011. Government contributions
year-to-year increased $0.6 billion or 3.4 percent from $17.5 billion in
the third quarter of 2010.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **

[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$]