Investment
Doubts over rate rise this year as inflation hits fresh one-year low
UK consumer price inflation fell 0.1 percentage points in April to 2.4%, a fresh one-year low and missing economists' expectations of inflation remaining at 2.5%.
'Fake news' and funding levels: Why BoE rate rises matter less than you think
Speculation about rate rises has caused some schemes to delay any further liability hedging. Rosalind Mann looks at why this may be the wrong move.
LGPS assets grew 21% in 2017 as scheme enjoyed 20% returns
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) had a markedly improved year in 2017 as high returns helped increase assets to £263bn as of March 2017.
USS invests £330m in private rented sector with Places for People
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has entered into a £330m joint venture with Places for People to acquire a range of private rented residential assets.
IC Select finds just 3% of schemes retendered investment consultants last year
The number of pension schemes retendering for investment consulting services has dropped sharply over the last decade, IC Select research reveals.
LGPS Central: Becoming an asset manager
Following its April launch, the Midlands pool is well on the road to becoming a full-service asset manager. Andrew Warwick-Thompson speaks to Stephanie Baxter about the challenges of hiring and maintaining relationships
JLT seeds Investec's unconstrained credit fund
JLT Investment Solutions has invested £14m on behalf of clients in Investec Asset Management's new credit strategy, which aims to enhance yields while preserve capital.
FCA board agrees to ditch 'value for money' tag
The board of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has accepted proposals to ditch the term 'value for money' from the final rules relating to the Asset Management Market Study (AMMS).
DC: A sustainable future?
Newton Investment Management's series of DC columns continues with Julian Lyne discussing how the industry meets the demand for SRI
DWP plans to consult on ESG fiduciary duties from June
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expects to consult on trustees' legal duties to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks from next month.
Investment considerations from TPR's annual funding statement
Abhishek Srivastav explains why he believes the regulator's annual funding statement strengthens the case for a cash-flow driven investment approach
Standard Life Aberdeen disputes Lloyds 'right' to pull £109bn Scottish Widows portfolio
SLA claims it is not a 'material competitor'
AMX launches CCFs in bid to boost industry's efficiency and transparency
Asset Management Exchange (AMX) has added tax transparent global equity vehicles to its range of investment funds to cut scheme costs and increase transparency across the industry.
LGPS funds buy equity protection as concerns bite
Local government funds are buying bespoke strategies to shield improved funding levels from potential market falls ahead of their 2019 triennial valuations. Stephanie Baxter reports
UPDATED: The UK's biggest pension consulting firms
PP has analysed the accounts of the biggest pension consulting firms and recorded the turnover (revenue) in their most recent accounts. The full leaderboard is below…
Worcestershire LGPS adopts downside protection for £1.2bn equity portfolio
Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund has implemented a solution to bank some of the recent upside in the equity markets and protect these gains through to its 2019 triennial valuation, PP has learned.
Multi-factor approach could enhance DC equity portfolios, says Aon
Defined contribution (DC) schemes that have opted for passive management should consider whether a multi-factor portfolio better suits their needs, Aon says.
Rising DB transfer claims push 2018/19 FSCS levy to £407m
The FSCS has cited the growing number of claims relating to defined benefit (DB) pension transfers as the main reason for the lifeboat scheme's levy for this year being a fifth higher than it forecast in January.
More active managers outperformed in 2017 amid low volatility
After a disappointing 2016, last year proved to be a better year for active managers with 44% beating their benchmarks. Stephanie Baxter reports
P-solve to rebrand as River and Mercantile Solutions
Investment consultant and fiduciary manager P-Solve will rebrand as River and Mercantile Solutions from 1 July to align its brand with the wider River and Mercantile Group.
DC musings: The future of UK retirement income drawdown products
Newton Investment Management's series of DC columns continues with Gerald D Rehn of BNY Mellon forecasting innovation in the market
PIC invests £60m in residential housing association
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has agreed to a 30 year debt investment in Phoenix Community Housing, a not-for-profit, resident-led housing association in London.
UPDATE 2: CMA working papers show no concerns over market concentration
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published three working papers as part of its probe into investment consultants and fiduciary managers - saying it has no concerns over concentration in these markets.
