News

The rise of the state pension age for women improved public finances to the tune of £2.1bn as employment rates for both women and men increased, research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found.

Schemes are increasingly looking to "midfield assets" to match liabilities with higher yields, Axa Investment Management says.

Pension funds can lend to businesses and fill the gap left by retreating banks, but will not be treated like "mugs", according to Tesco chief investment officer Steven Daniels.

Government proposals to ease the burden of defined benefit deficits on employers by smoothing assets and liabilities could backfire, warns the National Association of Pension Funds.

Pension Insurance Corporation saw a surge in profits last year after writing £1.5bn in new business.

Construction firm Balfour Beatty has seen its combined deficit increase by 23% as it consults with members on closing schemes to future accrual.

February's continued boost in equities has seen FTSE350 scheme deficits decrease according to Mercer despite continued negative deficit reports coming from 2012 final year results.

John Lewis is conducting an extensive two-year review into its pension provision after revealing its final salary scheme deficit rose by almost 29% in 2012.

The National Association of Pension Funds and Wheels Common Investment Fund have lost their bid to recoup £2bn in backdated VAT on investment management services for defined benefit schemes.

Standard Life's 2012 corporate pensions platform profits are up but increases in new business have fallen from 2011 levels, its final year results show.