News

NETHERLANDS - Dutch pension funds sold assets worth €26bn (US$33.5bn) during the fourth quarter of 2008, the Dutch central bank and pensions regulator, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) has said.

Many members will be disappointed with defined contribution schemes due to lack of knowledge, industry experts say.

Schemes are not to blame for the economic crisis but should do more to improve corporate governance, experts claim.

About 10% of occupational pension schemes have concerns about the value for money their investment consultant provides, National Association of Pension Funds research reveals.

UK - Trustees are largely unaware of the potential conflicts of interest and risk involved with securities lending, a former governor of the International Corporate Governance Network has claimed.

ITALY - Italian pension schemes are asking fund managers to switch to low volatility cash-like instruments that can be liquidated quickly, MandateWire reports.

Standard Life defies the gloom as figures beat target and dividend is raised; Cable points finger of blame

John Scampion has been reappointed as chairman of The Pensions Regulator's determinations panel for a further four years.

An additional 11,000 John Lewis partners joined its defined benefit pension scheme last year, its annual results reveal.

Trustees of the newly created Rheidol 2008 Pension Scheme has appointed Wragge & Co to act as its legal adviser.