gilt yields

Just 15% of contributors say schemes should put de-risking plans on hold until gilt yields show signs of improving, although two out of five contributors think they should consider delaying.

Minute gains in the FTSE has seen private sector defined benefit deficits increase for the second month in a row, adding £20bn, research from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) shows.

The BT Pension Scheme has seen its defined benefit deficit more than double to £5.7bn as discount rate falls pushed up liabilities, its final year results show.

The combined defined benefit deficit of FTSE350 firms has risen 50% during the first four months of this year, research from Mercer shows.

The Pensions Regulator has urged trustees to be more flexible when agreeing deficit recovery plans in its annual funding statement.

UK corporate pension deficits rose 14% in April as an expected improvement in bond yields failed to materialise, says Xafinity.

Buzz respondents are far from optimistic that the long hoped for rally in gilt yields will happen this year. Just one in fifty contributors believes yields will rise significantly in 2013 while the majority think they will remain steady.

Tesco has seen its defined benefit deficit increase by more than £500m despite a bump in contributions after its triennial review, its final results show.

Market movements in the first quarter of the year have had a mixed effect on the bulk annuity market and pushed up the cost of buy-ins and buyouts, says Towers Watson.

Private sector deficits increased last month for the first time this year after slower growth in equities, research from the Pension Protection Fund shows.