News

GLOBAL - Real estate and North American managers have provided the funds of choice for pension schemes moving towards alternatives, despite trustee concerns, according to Watson Wyatt.

GLOBAL - UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed allowing oil rich sovereign wealth funds to invest in energy projects in Britain and other oil consuming countries, as part of a plan to bring more stability to the oil market.

ALTERNATIVE assets managed on behalf of pension funds grew by 40pc in 2007, Watson Wyatt research reveals.

SOME 16pc of companies have closed their defined benefit scheme to future accrual for existing employees, latest PricewaterhouseCoopers research reveals.

UK - Pension scheme member nominated trustees and other stakeholders must be included in the review of the Myners principles, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and pressure group FairPensions have said.

US - Demand for enhanced cost of living allowances (COLA) in response to rising gas prices is putting increasing pressure on pension funds.

THE London branch of Landesbank Hessen -Thüringen has hired HSBC Actuaries and Consultants to provide advisory services to the trustees of its pension scheme.

Force of credit crunch made plain as 170 hedge funds crash in three months; Older workers can be a genuine asset; Ex-Bear Stearns hedge fund managers arrested

Local authority pension schemes have seen average funding levels increase by 11.5pc since 2004, new figures show.

THE government needs to conduct a full review of pension buyout models in a bid to anticipate any future threats to members' interests, the Trades Union Congress says.