Investment

HONG KONG - The Mandatory Provident Fund has failed in its task to encourage additional savings, but pending legislation to encourage members to move their assets into other savings vehicles will do just that, said RCM.

US - The number of new mandates placed by US institutional investors increased 16% in 2010 with a sharp increase seen in specialist mandates like real assets, commodities and other alternatives.

The extra returns for holding shares over risk-free assets will fall by nearly one third from present levels, making a reliance on equities by pension funds "a pretty dangerous strategy", London Business School research warns.

Interest rate hedging increased 44% in the last three months of last year, driven by pension schemes rushing to capitalise on attractive market swap levels, a survey suggests.

Fidelity International has launched a workplace ISA in response to demand from its defined contribution clients and scheme members.

In the latest Conjecture debate, our panellists from Aberdeen Asset Management, Amundi, Fidelity, Nomura Asset Management discussed Emerging Markets.

AXA Rosenberg Group, AXA Rosenberg Investment Management and the Barr Rosenberg Research Center have agreed to pay a total of $242m (£150m) to settle SEC charges after concealing a coding error from investors.

The National Employment Savings Trust has appointed State Street Global Advisors, UBS Global Asset Management and BlackRock to run five mandates for its default fund.

Sherborne Investors has won its fight to oust members of F&C's board, receiving a majority vote at a general meeting held today.

The Pensions Regulator has overhauled its senior management team and their responsibilities to give defined contribution and auto-enrolment greater importance.