News

JAPAN - The outlook for the Japanese economy will improve over the next year, according to one of the country's leading economists.

TWO men - convicted for their part in stealing £2.9m from a Birmingham firm's pension scheme - must repay over £1.5m or face a further jail term.

CANADA - The consortium led by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) has won an appeal to continue with its acquisition of Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE).

AUSTRALIA - Two illegal unregistered managed funds, known as the Super Save Superannuation Fund and Integrity Plus Unit Trust, will be wound up, following an order from the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

RBS re-evaluates financial backing of Synesis Life; Pension rule change regressive, critics say; Final-salary pension schemes come under renewed attack; Key tasks ahead as landscape evolves

NETHERLANDS - The controversial Bakker Report on labour market and pension reforms in the Netherlands has met mixed reactions, but the pensions industry has warned it is far too early to assess just how wide-reaching the changes will be.

CARDIFF County Council has gone out to tender for an actuary to provide services to the £904m Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund.

EUROPE - Standard Life has revealed it is investigating regulatory approval in four countries as it moves to set up a 'pan-European employee benefits hub'.

Pension funds around the world could see commodities ripped out of portfolios, if proposed legislation by the US Senate forbidding investment in the asset class is passed.

Employees' lack of appreciation about how much their pension scheme costs a company could push more firms into offering defined contribution (DC) plans, according to industry figures.