News

IRELAND - The overall returns for the National Pensions Reserve Fund were up 7.5% during the third quarter of 2009 due to gains realised in its equity holdings.

The total deficit of FTSE350 pension schemes dramatically worsened to an estimated £102bn at the end of June, latest Pension Capital Strategies research reveals.

Pension funds turn to the low-risk area of microfinance; Aegon UK forced to admit pensions blunder

HM Revenue & Customs will go out to consultation on amendments to A-Day regulations that threaten members' tax free cash on wind-up for the second time, PP has learned.

Employers are not paying sufficient attention to contract-based defined contribution scheme governance structures, Standard Life research says.

The £4.1bn Merseyside Pension Fund has retained fixed income managers Schroders and Legal & General following a formal review and tender process.

UK - More than 1500 Fujitsu workers are deciding whether to take industrial action over proposed pension cuts which unions believe will cut salaries by 20%.

UK - The £7bn ($11bn) West Midlands Pension Fund has invested £40m in a global long-short equity fund of hedge funds run by Goodhart Partners.

US - The funded status of pension plans sponsored by the S&P1500 has plummeted to 81% in the last six months, analysis from Mercer has revealed.

IRELAND - Some 70% of defined benefit plans could be closed to new members in the near future, double the amount two years ago, a report by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) found.