Coronavirus
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.
Covid-19: The catalyst for commercial property structural change?
John Plenderleith looks at how Covid-19-induced changes in consumer spending will impact commercial property investments
Unbundled DC schemes 'a ticking time bomb' after Covid-19
A lack of steadfast regulation around unbundled defined contribution (DC) schemes makes them a ticking time bomb for firms and members, says Salvus Master Trust.
Aegon broadens Member Insights access to help schemes focus on their health
Trustees, corporates and consultants have been urged not to “forget the health of their scheme” during Covid-19 and to keep an eye on key member trends.
UBS completes £1.4bn longevity swap with Zurich and Canada Life
The UBS (UK) Pension and Life Assurance Scheme has hedged the longevity risk of around half its defined benefit (DB) liabilities through a £1.4bn longevity swap completed with Zurich and Canada Life Reinsurance.
CMI: Excess death levels stable
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows excess death rates in England and Wales during the Covid-19 pandemic have remained low for another week.
PPF and TPR to be given key role in corporate restructures
The government has amended its Corporate Governance and Insolvency Bill to give the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) a greater role in corporate restructurings.
Covid-19 causes little direct impact on DB liabilities
Just a fraction of liability growth since the start of the year will be offset by the impact of excess deaths caused by Covid-19, says Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP).
Bulk annuity 'end of year sale' possible as total volumes expected to halve
Covid-19 has caused a slowdown in the number of bulk annuity transactions, with buy-ins and buyouts expected to amount to a maximum of £25bn this year, Willis Towers Watson says.
