School Employees' Retirement System of Ohio, Columbus, changed the...

School Employees’ Retirement System of Ohio, Columbus, changed the benchmark for its international equity portfolio to the MSCI All Country World index (ex-U.S.), said Doug Sisson, director of investments for the $7.9 billion fund. Benchmarks for the $1.3 billion portfolio had been the MSCI EAFE index and the Emerging Markets Free index. The move was spurred by the board’s desire for a unified international benchmark, Mr. Sisson said. The change also will allow the fund to cut the frequency with which it rebalances its international portfolio, which is now 16% of the fund. The change is spurring "general discussion’’ by investment staff about the need to search for another emerging-markets manager, he said. If staff does decide to propose a manager search, it won’t be until spring, Mr. Sisson added.