News

THE PENSIONS REGULATOR has launched a new web-based scheme return process in a bid to make it easier for schemes to provide it with the correct information.

Including: FRANCE - Unions call off strikes; SWEDEN - AP4 chooses BlackRock; UK - Watson Wyatt expands strategy group; AUSTRALIA - Future Fund appoints director of FI and alternatives; ITALY - Banco Popolare and Citi expand custody relationship

AUSTRALIA - The number of corporate funds is expected to decline substantially by 2022, and there may even be none remaining, according to a report from Rice Warner Actuaries.

UK - The gap between directors and their workers' pensions benefits may be closing, according to research by Xafinity Consulting.

US - Low income earners have a far higher likelihood of not saving for retirement and many of those currently entering the workforce face the prospect of having zero savings, according to a report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).

ALMOST 50pc of pension schemes are now invested in hedge funds as overall equity allocations fell by more than six percentage points, latest research from Barings Asset Management reveals.

INCLUDING - UK - Paternoster secures Lasmo Pension Plan; UK - Grayling urges PM to activate pensions package; DFSA issues hedge fund code of practice; UK - Pension funds look east; UK - Actuary leaves Aon

US - The Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) board has altered its investment portfolio to include allocations to collateralised loan obligations and emerging markets.

PUNTER SOUTHALL has appointed Kevin Burgess as a qualified actuary.

NEW ZEALAND - The government is to introduce changes to its KiwiSaver legislation to ensure fees charged by complying superannuation schemes are "not unreasonable".