News

AUSTRALIA - Investment managers are increasingly bearish about Australian equities and the listed property sector, Russell's latest Investment Manager Outlook survey has shown.

US - Major private retirement plans have urged the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee not to bar pension funds from investing in commodities.

AUSTRALIA - Employers who pay late superannuation contributions will no longer be forced to pay twice, the government has announced.

UK - Proposed updates to the Myners' principles should not add to the overall cost and administrative burden of running a pension plan, Watson Wyatt has warned.

THREE-QUARTERS of pension scheme administrators feel undervalued by trustees, Xafinity Paymaster says.

UK - Pension and sovereign wealth funds are amongst those shoring up Barclays' balance sheet as main buyers of the bank's £4.5bn (US$8.8bn) share issuance today.

US - Boeing has brought in a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme for non-unionised staff who join the company after January 2009.

INCLUDING: US - New York State anti-fraud reforms passed; CHINA - State considering REIT market; US - Congress plans energy speculation rules; AFRICA - Fund charged for ignoring member wishes

The Pensions Trust was "bitterly disappointed" to discover its Pension Protection Fund levy had risen by £850,000 a year.

ARGENTINA - Watson Wyatt has bought consulting firm Marcu & Asociados to expand its business in Latin America.