Mercer

AUSTRALIA - Simple, low-cost financial advice should be incorporated into the MySuper default fund structure offered by superannuation funds to increase members' engagement with their pensions, according to Mercer.

NEW ZEALAND - KiwiSaver funds posted positive returns for the first quarter of 2011, with the meidan KiwiSaver growth fund returning 3.8% and the more conservative default median fund returning 1.6%, according to Mercer's KiwiSaver survey.

GLOBAL - Manager search activity increased in 2010 with emerging markets and alternative asset classes receiving most interest, research by Mercer reveals.

AUSTRALIA - The proposed tax incentives announced in this week's budget should enhance the appeal of infrastructure as an asset class, but structure and costs must remain the primary considerations for institutional investors, Towers Watson has warned....

Andrew Short gives a run down on what help is out there

GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days.

US - S&P 1500 companies saw their pension deficits shrink by $4bn during April, figures from Mercer show.

AUSTRALIA - The demand for private sector involvement in infrastructure investments is increasing and expected to lead to greater availability of quality assets, Mercer Australia believes.

Pension funds are increasingly worried about the potential impact of inflation shocks on their portfolios, research by Mercer shows.

EUROPE - European pension funds are increasingly worried about the potential impact of inflation shocks on their portfolios, research by Mercer shows.