interest rates
Industry Voice: Flexible credit: strategies for all seasons
A flexible, all-weather approach to credit investing has risen in popularity during the past decade. We look at how flexibility has helped credit investors capture income in a low-yield world and manage duration risk.
UK inflation hits 2.1% but monetary policy remains slave to Brexit
A rise in UK inflation back above the Bank of England's 2% target rate will not change the thinking of its Monetary Policy Committee with regards to interest rates, experts have said.
Members failing to understand pension freedom tax issues
Scheme members are not equipped to deal with the tax implications of accessing their pension, last week's Pensions Buzz respondents said.
Inflation edges up to 1.9% on higher food prices
Inflation in the UK rose slightly in February to 1.9% on the back of higher food prices, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Interest rate LDI increases 9% but inflation hedging drops
The amount of hedging against interest rate risk rose to £31.7bn in the fourth quarter of last year, according to BMO Global Asset Management.
Sterling spikes as inflation beats expectations to hit six-month high of 2.7%
UK inflation unexpectedly rose to 2.7% in August, beating analysts' expectations of a drop to 2.4% from 2.5% the previous month.
UK moves up one place in global retirement ranking
The UK has moved up one place in this year's Natixis Global Retirement Index (GRI) - seeing improvements in health and wellbeing dragged down by performance of retirement prospects in general.
LDI activity rebounds in Q2 after subdued Q1; LIBOR to SONIA switching driving activity
The level of interest rate hedging increased to £29.5bn of liabilities in the second quarter as pension funds continued to de-risk, according to BMO Global Asset Management's research.
Continued stability for pension transfer values throughout July
Pension transfer values remained stable throughout July, with the index finishing the month where it started, according to XPS Pension Group's transfer value index (TVI).
Base rate rise 'serves as important reminder' to DB trustees over asset allocation
Yesterday's increase in the Bank of England's (BoE) base rate will not have an immediate significant impact on defined benefit (DB) scheme funding but schemes should reconsider their investment allocation, industry commentators have said.
'The reliable boyfriend delivers': Bank of England unanimously votes to raise rates
The Bank of England's (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has unanimously voted to increase interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, the highest level in almost a decade.
Hermes fixed income head: UK could see rates cut next year
Hermes Investment Management's head of fixed income Andrew Jackson has warned the Bank of England (BoE) could cut interest rates next year, with rates having a bigger impact now than ever before.
Inflation holds steady at 2.4% in May
UK inflation stuck at 2.4% in May, missing analysts' estimates of a move higher and further cooling expectations on an interest rate hike from the Bank of England this summer.
Doubts over rate rise this year as inflation hits fresh one-year low
UK consumer price inflation fell 0.1 percentage points in April to 2.4%, a fresh one-year low and missing economists' expectations of inflation remaining at 2.5%.
Pension deficit fell £53bn over April; interest rates outlook is 'crucial'
The combined deficit of the UK's private sector defined benefit (DB) schemes fell by 40% to £78bn on an accounting basis during April, JLT Employee Benefits analysis has revealed.
DB superfunds will not take off, say over half of respondents
Defined benefit (DB) 'superfund' consolidators will not take off, according to 52% of this week's Pensions Buzz respondents.
BoE hints at 'earlier' rate hikes as MPC adopts more hawkish stance
Held rates at 0.5%
Transfer values stay steady over November
The estimated transfer value quote for the average defined benefit (DB) member stayed fairly stable over November, according to Xafinity.
DB deficit climbs £40bn as rate rise fails to dent
The aggregate deficit of the UK's defined benefit (DB) schemes rose to £450bn over the course of November, PwC's Skyval index has recorded.
Next UK rate rise will be in 2018, says industry
Respondents believe another rate rise is question of when, not if.
How will the rate rise affect DB pension funds?
The Bank of England has raised rates for the first time in 10 years on a gradual path towards normalisation. Stephanie Baxter explores whether this will give schemes a reprieve from low yields
Rate hike just 'symbolic' gesture for DB schemes
The Bank of England's (BoE) decision to increase interest rates for the first time in over a decade has been welcomed by the industry, yet the move will only be "symbolic" for most defined benefit (DB) schemes.
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week's top stories included the Trades Union Congress calling for collective defined contribution schemes after finding a bad year of investment performance a year before retirement can leave savers £5,000 a year worse off.
