News

UK - Marks & Spencer is set to cap employees' annual increases in pensionable pay and change early retirement benefits in a bid to cut costs.

UK - Pension fund trustees are facing average returns of -13% for 2008, preliminary State Street Investment Analytics figures reveal.

Pensions funds gain from drop in sterling

IRELAND - Irish pension schemes lost €27bn (US$36.7bn) in 2008 on the backs of poor performing Irish equity markets, a report by Rubicon Investment Consulting reveals.

NETHERLANDS - The solvency crisis among Dutch funds is the most severe in the industry's history, pension experts and industry commentators warn.

CANADA - Richard Guay, president and chief executive officer at Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has resigned his post but will remain in an advisory role.

GLOBAL - Oil and gold exchange traded commodities (ETCs) recorded strong inflows at the end of 2008, according to ETF Securities (ETFS).

GLOBAL - Global equity markets rebounded in December, with 19 of the 21 emerging markets and 22 of the 25 developed markets posting gains during the month, latest Standard & Poor's (S&P) data reveals.

GLOBAL - Three investment associations have opposed public disclosure of short selling information.

UK - Redington Partners has appointed Mark Herne and David Thompson as senior consultants in a bid to broaden its business.