News

US - State governments would be forced to report a net pension liability in their financial statements under new accounting proposals put forward by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

Pensions diversify but dubious about fees; Pensions select firms for direct investment; Steady yields tempt investors back; UK companies overpay £100bn in DB schemes; Accounting change to show extra public debt; Poor health means a better annuity - and...

The use of alternative assets by pension funds grew by 16% in 2010 to $952bn (£596bn), according to research by Towers Watson.

The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority will seek industry comments on Europe's IORP directive as it prepares its advice to the European Commission.

UK companies are needlessly paying £5bn into defined benefit pension schemes because their funding targets are more than 10% higher than necessary, PwC research finds.

GLOBAL - The use of alternative asset by pension funds grew by 16% to $952bn in 2010, according to research by Towers Watson.

UK - Lothian Pension Fund has gone out to tender for two investment advisers to sit on its Investment Strategy Panel following the expiration of the current adviser contracts.

David Norgrove has been appointed as chairman of analytics company PensionsFirst Group.

EUROPE - The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority (EIOPA) will seek industry comments on Europe's IOPRPs directive as it prepares its advice to the European Commission.

UK - Large-scale, collective private sector schemes should be set up in competition to NEST - allowing companies to offer DC without running their own scheme, the incoming chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds says.