Deficits

US - Blackstone Group , the private- equity firm that has been trying to mend relations with New York City's public pension funds, said employees' retirements should not be threatened by government deficits.

Deficits are creating a drag on scheme investment returns of about 1.2% of liabilities a year, Pension Insurance Corporation research shows.

The aggregate s179 funding position of the 6,560 schemes in the PPF 7800 index is estimated to have improved to a surplus of £21.7bn at the end of December last year.

US - The deficits of S&P 1500 pension funds increased by $86bn to $315bn in 2010, research by Mercer shows.

UK - Deficits at defined benefit pension schemes fell by up to 51% in 2010, but schemes still have some way to go to reach the funding levels of 2008, figures show.

Deficits for defined benefit pension schemes fell in 2010 but schemes still have some way to go to reach the funding levels of 2008, latest figures show.

UK - Ofcom has confirmed it will not allow BT to fund its £6.6bn ($10.3bn) scheme deficit through charges it levies on competitors for telecoms services.

The 6,560 schemes monitored by the Pension Protection Fund reported an aggregate deficit of £1bn at the end of last month.

Defined benefit scheme deficits have rocketed by about 50% over the past four years jumping from an average of £55bn to £87bn, figures show.

The length of time it takes companies to repair defined benefit scheme deficits continues to increase, data from The Pensions Regulator shows.