Deficits rise to worst level ever following rate cut
Defined benefit liabilities have risen by an eye-watering £70bn on the back of the Bank of England's (BoE) decision to cut interest rates and launch a new round of quantitative easing (QE).
Analysis by Hymans Robertson shows lowering the base rate to 0.25% and extending QE by £70bn led to 10- and 20-year gilt yields hitting record lows, increasing the total value of DB liabilities to £2.4trn....
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USS: Cost of scheme is 'growing challenge' as future returns 'likely to be lower'
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) trustee board has warned investment returns will be lower in the future than expected as it edges closer to concluding its 2020 valuation.
Pension transfer values end volatile year 8% up; Scam 'red flags' at record high
Pension transfer values ended 2020 at £259,000, 8% higher than the start of the year, according to XPS Pensions, after suffering periods of substantial volatility linked to the pandemic while potential scams reached record highs.
TPR's long-term funding approach 'will put extra financial pressure' on scheme sponsors
The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) long-term funding approach will put extra financial pressure on UK pension scheme sponsors, according to Aon.
DB funding - December 2020: Deficit up £76bn over 2020, says PPF
Every month, several firms issue trackers of the aggregate defined benefit (DB) scheme funding position. See here for the December 2020 estimates on the various measures…
ECPA issues warning over changes to sponsor longevity assumptions
Schemes need to dynamically and closely monitor the position of their employer covenant and its corporate longevity, ensuring the assessment is not conducted in isolation, the Employer Covenant Practitioners Association (ECPA) says.
