News

SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's National Pension Service, the nation's biggest investor, plans to cut its overseas investments and buy domestic bonds to help the nation weather its worst financial turmoil in a decade.

US - A US$3.9trn year-on-year decline in the value of equities held by US pension plans has prompted a warning by academics about the "fragility" of the country's emerging retirement arrangements.

GLOBAL - Watson Wyatt has restructured its manager research team in a bid to make its global methodology more consistent.

PPF set to join Lehman creditors; Time for more realism from pension fund trustees; Short selling ban to remain in force until January; ITV at new low as pension gap fuels fear for dividend; BBC pension scheme loses £1bn in value in four months

RESEARCHERS have developed a method of forecasting mortality rates that incorporates unusual events such as a bird flu epidemic or extreme weather.

KEITH BRAY and Jim Tennant have joined AllenbridgeEPIC Investment Advisers as members of its investment panel.

Pension funds look at counterparty risk; Pension savers face big charges to redeem early; UK recession likely, says Bank of England

Companies and trustees are being too reactive in taking pension scheme buyout off the table as a result of market turbulence, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The Lehman Brothers Pension Scheme has entered the Pension Protection Fund assessment period.

Alexander Forbes Financial Services has put together a free guide on investment diversification for pension scheme trustees and sponsoring employers.