All Federal Reserve articles

  • Chris Iggo
    Opinion

    Inflation fears could see schemes move to lock in equity gains

    2022-04-08T00:00:00Z

    Many trustees will have witnessed some remarkable gains from their global equity allocations. 

  • Features

    Jaguar scheme opts for forestry and farmland

    2018-11-01T00:00:00Z

    The Jaguar Pension Plan has invested in agriculture and timber funds in a bid to diversify its portfolio and develop its exposure to opportunistic private markets.

  • Tom Rivers
    Opinion

    Unwinding of QE still threatens Eurozone markets

    2018-06-04T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: The shifting landscape of Italian politics over the past few weeks is just the latest chapter in a longstanding narrative of political risk and uncertainty that appears to threaten both the eurozone’s economic recovery and the European Central Bank’s monetary policy framework perpetually.

  • Opinion

    Roundtable: How can schemes prepare for uncertainty in fixed income?

    2018-04-23T00:00:00Z

    What does the end of an unprecedented era of quantitative easing have in store for interest rates, and how should increasingly mature defined benefit schemes adapt? PGIM’s Edward Farley, Barnett Waddingham’s Sophia Heathcoat, MJ Hudson Allenbridge’s Anthony Fletcher, Independent Trustee Services’ Dinesh Visavadia, Bestrustees’ Graham Wardle and independent trustee Alexandra Martinez discuss.

  • Keith Wade
    Opinion

    Reasons to be cheerful: What to expect from markets in 2018

    2017-12-28T00:00:00Z

    The ‘Goldilocks’ environment may be disappearing in US and European markets, says Schroders’ Keith Wade, but a strong picture for global growth means 2018 still looks a promising year for pension assets.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    In the same boat?

    2017-02-09T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: As sales of adult incontinence pads in Japan have reportedly overtaken infant nappies, the effects of demographic change have implications beyond supermarkets’ toiletry shelves.

  • Opinion

    Here to stay? Low interest rates and fixed income investing

    2016-03-24T00:00:00Z

    Are low interest rates here to stay, and how can pension funds invest in bonds in this environment? In this first part of the Fixed Income Live series, Dalriada's Simon Cohen, Hymans Robertson's John Walbaum, Mercer's Joe Abrams, PGIM's Edward Farley and Willis Towers Watson's Chris Redmond discuss where rates are going and what this means for schemes.

  • Jonathan Reynolds
    Opinion

    Understanding interest rates is key to assessing their impact

    2016-01-27T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: Changes in interest rates, and more specifically bond yields, can have profound influences on defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, so it is important trustees understand how they work.

  • Getty Images
    News

    Low for longer (but longing for higher) rates

    2015-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: The US Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday to push rates up may mark the end of an era, but investment experts say UK pension funds should expect little more than a small amount of volatility as a result.

  • News

    Developed markets show strength as hunt for yield changes course

    2015-10-14T00:00:00Z

    NAPF 2015: Disappointing economic recovery, low inflation and rock-bottom interest rates but rising asset markets are what pension funds can expect over the coming years, JPMorgan’s chief market strategist for the UK and Europe Stephanie Flanders said at the NAPF Annual Conference 2015 on Wednesday.

  • Opinion

    The butterfly effect – How to take cover and control

    2015-10-12T00:00:00Z

    Chinese equity shocks captured the headlines over the summer but UK pension funds should equip themselves for a deeper period of entrenched low-growth.

  • Opinion

    What fixed income ETFs can bring to your portfolio

    2015-10-11T00:00:00Z

    Low yields and unpredictable markets make life difficult for fixed income investors. BlackRock’s Brett Olson asks whether ETFs could provide some relief.

  • Stephen Budge
    Opinion

    What does the recent equity volatility mean for DC schemes?

    2015-09-21T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: The week of August 24 was a particularly interesting one, with global equity markets experiencing their most significant fall since 2011.

  • Illustration by Ben Jennings
    Opinion

    When the tide goes out…

    2015-08-28T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: What a fortnight for pension fund investors. As China failed to stem its stock market rout, bourses the world over shed points as concern peaked that the brakes were being put on growth for the economic powerhouse.

  • Opinion

    Why uncertainty will typify markets this year

    2014-01-21T00:00:00Z

    Talking head: Our investment columnist Rob Gardner explains the ambiguous state of the markets this year, and how schemes can progress in the face of it.

  • Opinion

    Riding out the taper: how the Fed’s policies affect your scheme

    2014-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Yields are rising as central banks look to extricate themselves from the markets, but 2014 may not be that simple.

  • ONS graph
    News

    Investment peaks as schemes buy cheaper gilts

    2013-09-23T00:00:00Z

    News analysis: UK pension funds hit a record of £17bn of net investments during the second quarter, largely as a result of schemes taking advantage of lower bond prices, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

  • Opinion

    EMD report: how to take advantage of the market dip

    2013-06-24T00:00:00Z

    While emerging market assets have been battered in recent weeks, the debt sell-off could in fact provide added opportunity for pension schemes.