Coronavirus
Aviva profits dented by Covid-19 but bulk annuities offset fall
Aviva’s operating profit fell by 11% in the first half of the year as Covid-19 hit business activity, although a growth in bulk annuity sales partially offset the drop.
Coronavirus Blog: Scottish Widows extends easing of annuities applications; How to build cashflow strategies amid the pandemic
In this live blog, Professional Pensions brings together all the latest news on the industry's response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as regulatory and legal updates.
Market Movers Blog: BNP Paribas considers commodities trade finance exit - reports
In this live blog, Professional Pensions' sister title Investment Week collates all the breaking market news, analysis and opinion on equity, bond and currency movements as well as the impact of trade wars, tightening monetary policy and the Brexit negotiations....
David Fairs: Four weeks left to influence the future of DB funding
As TPR’s consultation on the principles underlying the revised code of practice for DB funding enters the final straight, David Fairs set outs why you should give the watchdog your views.
How to build cashflow strategies amid Covid-19
As more schemes look at building a CDI strategy amid the economic crisis, Sebastien Proffit looks at what to consider.
NHS scheme pays deadline further extended to March 2021
NHS Pension Scheme members in England and Wales have been given a further six months to take advantage of the voluntary scheme pays process for the 2018/19 deadline.
Covid-19 crisis: CDS indices have passed their crash test
The coronavirus-induced economic crisis has demonstrated the liquidity benefits of credit default swap indices, says Olivier Debat.
PASA publishes Covid-19 post-lockdown guidance for administrators
The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published follow-up guidance for administrators as they navigate their way out of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Coronavirus crisis adds urgency to sustainable investing agenda
Dan Roarty looks at how the companies with the strongest ESG ratings have fared financially in comparison to their peers throughout the pandemic
Savers see opportunities in stock markets but remain pessimistic about retirement
Levels of confidence in retirement saving remain persistently low, with feelings dampened further by Covid-19, but savers recognise the current opportunities in equities, a State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) survey finds.
Managing cyber risk in the face of Covid-19
As Covid-19 increases the vulnerability of businesses to cyber attacks, Charlie Wedin and Jonathan Hazlett look at key considerations for trustees and pension professionals.
Exclusive: Industry hesitant to second guess mortality rate changes
The industry does not expect future mortality improvements to change despite the 60,000 excess deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic, a Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) poll finds.
CMI: Four successive weeks of deaths below 2019 levels
Fewer deaths than might usually be expected at this time of year have been recorded in England and Wales for the fourth consecutive week, according to the Continuous Mortality Index (CMI).
XPS: Covid-19 could slash scheme liabilities by £90bn
Defined benefit (DB) scheme liabilities could reduce by as much as 5% as a result of Covid-19, XPS Pensions forecasting reveals.
Nest assets grow by £3.8bn in one year despite market downturn
Nest saw average inflows of £400m in new contributions per month over the course of 2019/20, leading to a 67% increase in assets under management (AUM).
TPR misses a third of performance targets as Covid hits
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) missed a third of the targets under its key performance indicators (KPIs) with Covid-19 causing a halt to some of its work.
Assessing longevity in a post-Covid-19 world
Amy Kessler, Professor Andrew Cairns, Professor David Blake and Marsha Kessler look at how schemes can make longevity assumptions post-Covid
Government's Covid-19 response is missed opportunity to revisit AE
Michael Ambery argues that AE faces a potential key fork in its journey, with the government missing a prime opportunity with the Kick Start Scheme, and employers need to step up instead.
PP Live: Covid-19 crisis has not changed TPR's view that funding principles are 'right'
The economic crisis caused by Covid-19 has reinforced The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) view that its defined benefit (DB) funding principles are “right”, says David Fairs.
DB investment governance post-Covid: What to delegate?
Ray Martin looks at what options trustees will have to add value to investment management and strategic implementation decisions in a post-Covid world
PPF gives 90-day levy extension to struggling employers
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has announced a 90-day interest-free extension to levy payments for employers struggling due to the Covid-19 economic crisis.
Prudential Retirement completes $1.7bn of longevity reinsurance
Prudential Retirement reinsured $1.7bn (£1.4bn) of UK pension scheme longevity risk in the first half of the year, it has revealed.
Communicating with members in a crisis
Millions of people are saving for a pension for the first time thanks to AE, but the Covid-19 crisis has posed a communications challenge. James Phillips looks at how to get the long-term nature of pensions across to this new generation of savers.
Summer statement: State to pay more pension contributions under Kickstart Scheme
Government plans to create jobs for 16-to-24-year-olds will see the state paying employer pension contributions, it is expected.
