News

EUROPE - More than half of pension trustees perceive commodities as a less risky investment following the credit crunch, according to research commissioned by Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM).

Employers are entering a period of "fraternalism" with their scheme members, delegates heard.

Defined benefit schemes are in danger of prejudicing their eligibility for the PPF by compromising their debts when they wind up, lawyers have warned.

POLAND - Poland isn't ready to consider suspending payments to private pension funds while it is trying to persuade the European Union to change accounting rules governing such transfers, Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski said.

Corporate bonds and emerging market debt can offer attractive valuations and improving fundamentals, especially in comparison with developed markets, delegates heard.

UK - The government's decision to switch pension indexation to the Consumer Prices Index is "policy on the hoof", the Labour pensions spokeswoman says.

Trustees have been urged to take control of decision making rather than giving way to their advisers.

The issue of whether to equalise guaranteed minimum pensions has been dogged by 20 years of procrastination, delegates heard.

Members seeking to undergo an enhanced transfer value exercise need to take financial advice, delegates heard.

Nearly two-thirds of pension schemes are not yet compliant with the regulator's guidance on record keeping, a PP Show poll reveals.