Sentence:  Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and <WSD>endowments</WSD> are searching for new sources of return. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Property or funds invested for the support and benefit of a person or not-for-profit institution.