Canadian pension plans post median Q3 return of -2.6% as bond yields rise, RBC says

• Canadian defined benefit pension plans returned a median -2.6% in Q3 2026, bringing year-to-date returns to 4.5%.
• Fixed income portfolios lost 5.1%, underperforming the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index’s 3% decline.
• Long-term bonds suffered the steepest losses, with the FTSE Canada Long Overall Index falling 6.3%.
• Government of Canada 10-year bond yields rose 61 basis points, potentially improving pension funded status by reducing future liability values.
• Equity portfolios remained positive, with Canadian holdings returning 1.6% versus 1.2% for global holdings.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. RBC - Royal Bank of Canada published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.