News

THE Transport Salaries Staffs' Association (TSSA) is balloting members on strike action in response to proposed changes to the Network Rail section of the Railways Pension Scheme.

STANDARD LIFE has defended its decision to guarantee annuity quotes on its internal policies for just one day.

GLOBAL - Exchange traded fund (ETF) assets fell during January, although less than the decline on global markets, according to Barclays Global Investors (BGI).

US - The Teachers' Retirement System of the state of Illinois (TRS) has axed three managers and placed several more on watch, including PIMCO, as it reviews its investment strategies ahead of an April asset allocation review.

UK - The £3.7bn (US$5.4bn) Merseyside Pension Fund has awarded a £110m European ex-UK equity mandate to Swiss asset manager Unigestion.

AUSTRALIA - Global Wealth Allocation (GWA) has established an Australian office, headed by Tony Sutton, to promote wealth weighted investment strategies in the Asia Pacific region.

IRELAND - Tens of thousands of workers took to the streets in Dublin on Saturday to protest about a proposed pension levy and the government's handling of the financial crisis.

UK - Several pension funds are considering making compensation claims or launching legal action against UK fund managers and advisers, Protiviti has claimed.

BAE 'quietly positive' on 2009 despite £500m needed to top up pension deficit; Defined contribution assets in £140bn hit; Defined contribution assets in £140bn hit; Pensions vs dividends; Government raid on pension funds to rescue schools building scheme...

TRUSTEES are turning away from online buyout auctions after becoming increasingly concerned about quality over price, insurers believe.