News

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.

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

LINDA PAINTER has joined pension communications specialists Anthony Hodges Consulting.

REDINGTON PARTNERS has appointed Mark Herne and David Thompson as senior consultants in a bid to broaden its business.