News

THE Pension Protection Fund has increased the funding limits at which schemes pay a reduced levy from 104pc to 120pc.

SWEDEN - Following poor 2007 annual returns, the fourth AP fund (AP4) has confirmed its head of global equities and head of fixed income and currency have quit.

UK - Most businesses are failing to measure the corporate benefits of pension contributions and are not providing enough education to workers, a survey from Alexander Forbes Financial Services has shown.

GLOBAL - Pension funds have been taking positive shareholder action to address the issue of disclosure over climate change and socially responsible investing.

UK - The Pensions Bill Committee is set to debate proposals from the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) which could potentially mean an end to the ban on employers being able to offer new conditionally indexed pension schemes.

Firms are failing to give staff adequate pensions guidance, JPMorgan Invest has warned.

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND - Australia's superannuation system has helped raise workers' expectations for retirement above those of their Kiwi counterparts, a study from Mercer has found.

US - The Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) reported a 17.8% annual return for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2007.

UK - The trustees of the Northern Rock pension scheme are seeking meetings with the company's new management team following its nationalisation.

THE Pensions Regulator has gone out to consultation on plans to include mortality assumptions as a new "trigger" for funding plans.