Tom Ground shares what he discovered during a pensions tour of the US
Modest rate cuts would be justified in this scenario, says US investment giant
UK/EUROPE/US - Risk Management Solutions has launched a medical-based approach to quantifying longevity risk that takes account of changing mortality phases.
GLOBAL - BP will not pay dividends for the remainder of the year as it has to put us$20bn in a compensation fund for victims of the Gulf oil spill.
US/UK - The trustee of the Visteon UK Pension Plan and the Pension Protection Fund are withdrawing a US$550m (£350m) claim against Visteon Corporation.
UK/US - Affiliated Managers Group and the management team of Artemis Investment Management have bought Artemis from Fortis Bank for an undisclosed sum.
US/EUROPE - Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt have been granted conditional clearance to proceed with their merger to form Towers Watson.
US - Public pension schemes saw their funding positions deteriorate significantly in 2008, according to a new report by Wilshire Consulting.
US - The Mayor of Philadelphia is seeking the approval of state legislation to defer pension payments in order to prevent job losses and other cuts in the city.
US - The funding status of S&P 1500 company pension schemes "remained broadly unchanged" in August despite a continued recovery in equity markets, Mercer says.