Investment

Pension schemes are being more active in their implementation of liability-driven investment strategies, fund managers claim.

The Pensions Regulator recently issued its covenant assessment guidance. Laura Blows looks at why this advice was necessary, its key points and how it may evolve

The British Airways Pension Fund has made a fresh allocation to City of London real estate as it believes the sector is well positioned in the current cycle.

The Society of Pension Consultants has launched a whitepaper to assist sponsors in the design of defined contribution schemes.

US - The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) has appointed John Petzold as its first director of investment management/deputy chief investment officer.

UK - Abolishing contracting out for final salary schemes could eventually lead to a higher universal state pension, an analyst says.

Defined contribution scheme members are overly optimistic about reaching their retirement targets, Towers Watson research shows.

EUROPE - The European Commission is reviewing a letter from nine member states seeking to alter the way public debt is calculated to account for changes in state pension systems.

Institutional investment in Gartmore's £3.6bn alternative funds business increased to 70% of total assets under management in the first half of 2010, interim results show.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund Global saw 5.4% (155bn kroner, $25bn) wiped off its investments in the second quarter of 2010, pulled down by a decline in global equity markets and a massive loss on its stake in BP.