Investment

Royal London has agreed to buy the Co-operative Banking Group's life insurance and asset management businesses in a deal worth up to £219m.

Hannah Brenton looks at the pros and cons

Naomi Rainey looks at the arguments for and against merging local government pension scheme funds

Jonathan Stapleton looks at the implications for asset allocation

International rules designed to bring transparency to the opaque derivatives market could backfire by imposing heavy costs on pension funds and force them to abandon hedging strategies, the industry's trade body warns.

The Chancellor's plans to bring forward the implementation of the single tier state pension from 2017 to 2016 will accelerate the decline of defined benefit schemes, experts warn.

Wandsworth Council has criticised London Pension Fund Authority's proposals to merge the capital's local government pension scheme funds.

Pooling London's local government pension scheme assets under London Pension Fund Authority's investment strategy would erode funds' value by £1bn, Wandsworth Council says.

Investors piling into European high yield debt are ignoring declining yields and weakening outlook, S&P Capital IQ warns.

Investec Asset Management chief executive Hendrik du Toit, managing director of UK distribution David Aird and other senior employees are to acquire a 15% stake in the business for £180m.