All News articles – Page 288
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Merseyside uses FX rate benchmark to cut fees
Merseyside Pension Fund has used foreign exchange rate benchmarking to hold its banks to account and secure cost reductions, as local authority schemes put increasing fee pressure on their investment counterparties.
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Lloyds scheme turns to alt credit as it shrinks equity risk
Lloyds Bank’s larger defined benefit pension fund has ditched a proportion of its equity holdings in favour of credit and hedge fund strategies, as pension funds widen their search for diversified sources of return.
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European pension funds swarm into alts for yield
European pension funds moved deeper into alternative investments last year as they sought fresh avenues of returns and liability matching in tricky market conditions.
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Pension tools not up to scratch for post-April flexibilities, say experts
Communication experts have called for schemes to avoid jargon and break down complexity in online illustration tools, as research reveals wide variation across offerings and patchy understanding of reforms.
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BA allows AVC transfer to meet flexibility demand as schemes seek middle way
British Airways’ pension schemes have introduced a new additional voluntary contribution transfer option allowing members to take advantage of the greater retirement flexibility available after April.
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Regulator reassures on DB-DC transfers but capacity crunch predicted
The industry has welcomed the pensions watchdog’s clarification on trustees’ duties around the new flexibilities, but some are concerned scheme administrators will face capacity issues around rising transfer value requests.
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How institutional managers are using animal welfare index
Proponents of a benchmark monitoring global food companies on animal welfare are pushing for wider adoption of by institutional investors as a tool to evaluate management boards and control risk.
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Energy group sells ships to buoy funding
UK energy major BG Group is using the $460m (£299m) sale of two liquid natural gas carrier ships to quell a rising deficit, the latest development in a 15-year funding deal.
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DWP opts for network of registers to facilitate PFM transfers
The government has revealed further detail on its long-awaited federated model for pension consolidation, as it moves to take the infrastructure development process to the next stage.
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Why three in four say they will shun guidance guarantee
Only one in four over-55s intend to use the government’s free retirement guidance service, falling below one in 10 for women approaching retirement, in another sign of the challenge facing the system.
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PPF index highlights DB funding trough, expected to normalise
The Pension Protection Fund’s latest 7800 Index figures showed further deteriorating funding deficits among defined benefit schemes, but industry commentators expressed caution against knee-jerk reactions to the slide.
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Fund management body sets out charges disclosure plan
Industry experts have welcomed proposals on charges and transaction costs from the Investment Association, but warned trustees should not make fees their only focus.
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Default fund design hamstrung by lack of behavioural data
Defined contribution experts have said a lack of sufficient data on members’ likely reaction to April's pension flexibilities is leaving default fund design in a state of limbo.
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Active share a crude metric when used in isolation, investors say
Asset manager Woodford has joined Neptune Investment Management as the latest investment companies pledging to list the active share for each of their funds. The measure, presented as a percentage, tracks how similar a fund is to the benchmark on which it is based.
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Jaguar Land Rover drives down DC charges by a tenth as cap bites
Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has cut its defined contribution scheme charges by 10 per cent as the imminent fees cap pushes down costs for savers across trust and contract-based schemes.
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Schemes win extended reprieve from European OTC clearing rules
The European Commission has recommended schemes be given a two-year reprieve from over-the-counter derivative clearing requirements. But industry experts still expect pension funds to end up paying higher transaction costs.
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Regulatory overhaul creates ‘perfect storm’ for DC schemes
Defined contribution schemes were hit with a slew of regulation last week across contract-based and trust-based provision, as the government and the City watchdog attempted to unify standards in these two areas.
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Smart beta marches on in Europe but consultants raise concerns
Investment data reveal the amount of money invested in smart beta strategies across Europe has grown strongly over the past decade, but a recent report has raised concerns the strategies' benefits could be overstated.
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How BT structured deal to recover £7bn deficit
The BT Pension Scheme has agreed a revised plan to conquer its £7bn deficit, a deal that experts say will give the scheme particular reliance on the company.
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What the regulator's £8.5m Carrington Wire deal means for your scheme
The Pensions Regulator has settled with two linked Russian companies for £8.5m over their UK pension fund obligations, prompting calls for trustees to re-examine covenant agreements.