News

SHAREHOLDERS in the fresh crop of bulk annuity buyout firms are poised to stump up more capital to meet a surge in demand, the new insurers say.

BUPA Group Risk has launched an online system which enables intermediaries to generate a quote and purchase cover within 30 minutes.

LANE CLARK & PEACOCK has appointed six partners and one principal to strengthen its actuarial consulting teams in London and Winchester.

PENSION funds will become the biggest investors in commodity markets in the coming years, the Financial Services Authority predicts.

HEDGE funds posted negative returns in March, according to a leading index.

BELGIUM - Hewitt Associates has been contracted by the Belgian construction sector to develop an administration system for its pension scheme, pensioB.

CANADA - Philippe Ithurbide has been promoted to executive vice-president of fixed income at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

GORDON Brown's decision to cut pension tax credit in 1997 is not solely to blame for increased pressure on workplace pensions, the National Association of Pension Funds claims.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has spoken out on the scandal surrounding chancellor Gordon Brown's controversial 1997 decision to remove tax relief from corporate pension funds.

MALTA - Outlays on pensions have been blamed for the 5.7% increase in social security spending, according to a report by the Maltese National Statistics Office.