Axa
Annuity rates drop 29% since Bank of England began QE
Annuity rates have declined by 29% since the introduction of the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme, AXA Life Europe has found.
Axa reviews DB scheme due to contracting out abolition
Axa is reviewing the viability of maintaining its defined benefit scheme due to an increasing deficit and the additional costs associated with the end of contracting out.
PwC expands consulting business with Woods appointment
PwC has expanded its defined contribution consulting business with the appointment of Paul Woods.
Axa makes first acquisition for £1bn long-lease property fund
Axa Real Estate has completed the £38m acquisition of two supermarkets for its newly-launched UK Long Lease Property fund.
Resolution's business value boosted 155% by corporate benefits
Resolution Group has reported new business of £138m for the first nine months of the year, up 45% from £95m for the same period last year, led by an 155% increase in the company's UK operations.
Weighted strategies in the dock
Jonathan Stapleton on the approaching need for passive strategies
Industry reveals interest in LDI for DC
More than half of the pensions industry feels that liability-driven investment techniques could be used for defined contribution schemes, Schroders research reveals.
Schroders and Axa IM consider DC LDI strategies
Schroders and Axa Investment Management are looking to launch liability-driven investment products for the defined contribution market, PP can reveal.
Brazil: the emerging markets success story
Andrew Short delves into the Brazillian economy
Axa considers sale of Bluefin Advisory Services
Axa has said it is considering a sell-off of Bluefin Advisory Services, the advice business it owns.
Monday Movers
Russell Investments, Aviva, Franklin Templeton, AXA IM, Pioneer
Round up - 17 October
Employers forced to cut pay rises to pay for pension plans; Companies warned not to dismiss pay revolts; Axa asks staff to give up index-linked pensions; Pensions worry QE2 will raise liabilities; High price for overstating inflation
Monday Movers
GLOBAL - JLT Investment Solutions, New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association Board, AXA Investment Managers, BlackRock, Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, F&C Investments, RPMI, Oddo Asset Management
Its not easy being green: pension funds and property invesment
Lynn Strongin Dodds looks at the opportunites that exist for investors in the real estate market and how initiatives such as the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark will affect them
Comment: What is risk anyway?
Jonathan Stapleton on risk and bursting bubbles
Schemes urged to take on more risk as de-risking costs increase
UK - Pension funds are facing a dilemma in that de-risking is expensive and not getting cheaper. Instead, they should take on more risk in the current climate, delegates at this year's Professional Pensions Show heard.
Monday Movers
APG Group; BNY Mellon; Dreyfus Corporation; Northern Trust; TRS; QIC; AXA Investment Managers; Acadian Asset Management; BlackRock; Aon Risk Solutions; SSgA; Mercer; RBC Dexia Investor Services; Schroders
Resolution adds £1bn to group pension assets
Resolution's group pension assets grew by approximately £1bn over the first half of this year, results show.
PP Show 2011: Investment Leaders' Roundtable
The Professional Pensions Show 2011 will include a investment leaders' roundtable made up of five of the investment industry's most influential figures.
Improving hedge fund governance
Lynn Strongin Dodds looks at how the recent AIMA guidelines are designed to improve governance in the hedge fund industry
Best practice for hedge funds
Lynn Strongin Dodds looks at how the recent AIMA guidelines are designed to improve governance in the hedge fund industry
Italian pensions starting to move on activist shareholding
Raquel Pichardo-Allison reports on a new wave of activism starting to swell in Italy
Axa IM awarded €2.2bn fiduciary mandate
NETHERLANDS - AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has won a €2.2bn ($3.1bn) fiduciary mandate by Ahold Pensioenfonds, the Dutch pension fund of retailer Ahold.
Friends Life hires Still for director of retirement income role
Friends Life has appointed David Still to the newly created position of director, retirement income in a bid to increase its presence in the annuities market.