UK - A sizeable minority of schemes feel they will miss funding recovery targets despite expecting contribution rises, Watson Wyatt has said.

A sizeable minority of schemes feel they will miss funding recovery targets despite expecting contribution rises, Watson Wyatt has said.

NETHERLANDS - Half of the top 10 pension funds in the Netherlands saw their coverage ratio drop to between 85% and 95% at the end of November, the Dutch Association of Industry-wide Pension Funds (VB) has revealed.

UK - The option for trustees to commute small 'stranded pension pots' of less than £2,000 (US$2,950) has been put on hold until the middle of 2009.

US - Leading Texas investors have discussed responses to the global economic downturn and the new emerging investment opportunities this has created.

US - An enhanced version of the T Standard, a metric used by investors to measure the performance of their portfolio during a transition, has been updated.

Pensions plan on track despite credit crisis; Pension funds eye battle on executive pay; Prince of Wales sent Peter Hain letter of support over donations affair; Responsible investment database announced

THE Pension Protection Fund has expanded its relationship with State Street Corporation to include risk services for its £2bn of assets under mangement.

Almost 60pc of pension professionals are still not convinced data cleansing tools and project management should be a key priority for schemes, a poll suggests.

UK - The government's decision to cut value added tax and then put it up again could add around £3bn (US$4.5bn) to defined benefit (DB) pension liabilities, Watson Wyatt warns.