News

SWITZERLAND - The 30 largest listed Swiss companies have increased their pension scheme funding levels up to 88%, but are still far short of the fully-funded status they enjoyed before the financial crisis, research from Towers Watson shows.

More than one in ten large UK schemes has suffered fraud over the past two years, with member transactions the most vulnerable area for fraudulent activities, research suggests.

GLOBAL - Emerging market debt remains attractive in comparison to G7 government bonds despite inflationary concerns and unrest in the Middle East, Aberdeen Asset Management believes.

US - The New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF) has terminated Insight Capital Research & Management from a $21m domestic equity portfolio, the pension fund said.

The Association of Member Nominated Trustees has set up two working groups to develop proposals to defend DB funds and look at best practice for DC schemes.

AUSTRALIA - Seven financial services organisations have formed an alliance to support the Federal Government in the delivery of its SuperStream initiatives and to provide better service to their members.

The government has set out its intention to "transform pension saving" with the launch of a green paper consultation on a flat-rate state pension.

More than half of GP 100 Panel members believe they would get more transparency from their private equity manager if the firm was publicly traded.

The Pension Protection Fund says it is on target to become self sufficient by 2030 but the next 12 months will be a testing time.

US - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) is considering dropping Deutsche Bank subsidiary RREEF as manager of a $570m real estate portfolio in favour of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors.