From fears over a ‘massive hit’ to portfolios as the US takes aim at Chinese businesses, to the Australian financial regulator being urged to probe the country’s superfunds industry. Read our round-up of pensions and finance news from the FT’s global outlets.

Podcast: The challenges posed by Covid-19 will accelerate the move towards professional trusteeship, according to Mercer’s chief actuary Charles Cowling, who argues that the responsibilities in this area post-coronavirus will be too much for lay trustees to handle alone. He and Catherine McFadyen, head of public sector actuarial, benefits and governance at Hymans Robertson, discuss LGPS funding, the impact of mortality rates, and give their predictions about the post-crisis world.

Podcast: The UK master trust market is still lacking the scale needed to provide the best outcomes for members, argues Gregg McClymont, director of policy at The People’s Pension. He and Pat Sharman, managing director at Caceis, discuss concerns from the Pensions Regulator regarding the investment strategies pursued by some of the UK’s authorised master trusts, among other topics.

From a Norwegian oil fund chief admitting he ‘screwed up’ over a flight scandal, to Franklin Templeton’s decision to wind up six funds in India. Read our round-up of pensions and finance news from the FT’s global outlets.

Podcast: Trustees should not take advantage of easements introduced by the Pensions Regulator, which has relaxed its enforcement rules and reporting guidelines, warns John Reeve, director at Cosan Consulting. He and Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, discuss the recent changes to the pensions industry brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside other issues.