The CPP Fund reported assets of $119.4 billion for the third quarter ended December 31, 2007, compared to $121.3 billion at the end of the previous quarter.

Investment performance was marginally negative, with a return of negative 0.14%. Consistent with the seasonal timing of cash flows to and from the CPP, the quarter also saw an outflow of $1.7 billion for CPP benefits.

“The CPP Fund’s results during the quarter reflected the markets’ volatility, and in the early part of 2008, we are seeing volatility intensify,” said David Denison, president and CEO of the CPP Investment Board. “As market participants with a very long-term investment horizon, we expect, and are prepared, to manage the fund through difficult markets like these periodically.”

For the first nine months of the fiscal year, the CPP Fund grew $2.8 billion, comprised of $2.2 billion in CPP contributions not needed to pay current pension benefits and $0.6 billion in investment income, representing an investment rate of return of 0.54%.

The CPP Investment Board says it emphasizes four-year results to reflect its long-term investment horizon. For the four-year period ended December 31, 2007, the CPP Fund earned $35.4 billion in investment income, representing a rolling four-year annualized investment rate of return of 10.1%.

At December 31, 2007, equities represented 63.5% of the fund or $75.8 billion. That amount consisted of 54% public equities valued at $64.4 billion and 9.5% private equities valued at $11.4 billion.

Nominal fixed income, which includes bonds and money market securities, represented 25.6% or $30.6 billion. Inflation-sensitive assets represented 10.9% or $13.0 billion.

Of those assets, 5.4% consisted of real estate valued at $6.5 billion, 3.3% was inflation-linked bonds valued at $3.9 billion and 2.2% was infrastructure valued at $2.6 billion.

The Chief Actuary forecasts that the CPP Fund will grow to approximately $250 billion by 2016 and that contributions will outpace benefits.