Investment

Emma Dunkley asks OECD's Edward Whitehouse about the implications of the financial crisis on pension schemes worldwide, and how governments are coping with the change

Pension funds are experiencing a second wave of innovation in the liability-driven investment market, as pension schemes increasingly use derivatives to gain synthetic exposure to asset classes, Redington Partners says.

CANADA - The funding levels of corporate pension plans remain higher than expected considering the downturn in the equity markets, rating agency DBRS said.

IRELAND - The average Irish pension managed fund was up 5.7% in July, marking the fifth consecutive month of gains, according to data compiled by Hewitt Associates.

Cuts in future annuity rates due to the adoption of the Solvency II rules for insurers would put further strain on defined contribution scheme members, Aon Consulting says.

ITV is consulting over changes to its scheme - including capping the growth of pensionable salary - in a bid to reduce its pension scheme deficit of £538m.

A one-size-fits-all approach to adviser charging principles for group personal pensions must be avoided.

Trustees of the Yell Pension Plan have been found guilty of maladministration for failing to properly explain the grounds on which they concluded a member had left service.

INDIA - FTSE Group has partnered with India's stock exchange MCX-SX in order to offer a broad range of domestic and international indices to the Indian market.

The value of DIY buy-in and longevity hedge deals struck during 2009 was almost double that of traditional buy-out / buy-in deals during the same period, latest research reveals.