All Gilts articles – Page 8
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OpinionIs the 'gilts plus' model broken?
The best way to calculate scheme liabilities has been the topic of much debate since defined benefit deficits have started making the headlines. So is the gilts plus model appropriate? Six experts, including from the Pensions Regulator, come together to discuss the merits of different valuation methods.
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Opinion
Does ‘gilts plus’ lead to inappropriate investment strategies?
Should valuation assumptions be a function of the investment strategy? What does the regulator say about the gilts-plus approach? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator discuss scheme valuation methods.
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FeaturesReuters scheme simplifies strategy in liquidity search
As part of a push to simplify its asset allocation and achieve greater liquidity, Reuters Pension Fund is exiting its property investments, putting some of the proceeds into a new buy-and-maintain mandate and an existing diversified growth fund.
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NewsCBI requests reforms to ease DB burden on businesses
The Confederation of British Industry has called for a number of reforms to help tackle the problem of pension costs for companies, including access to illiquid assets and approaches to measuring deficits.
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FeaturesInvensys swaps linkers for nominal in hunt for cash flow
The Invensys Pension Scheme has extended its commitment to fixed rate gilts, as low portfolio risk and a strong covenant allowed the £4.9bn scheme to weather worsening conditions in the broader UK industry.
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News
Pension schemes steer clear from selling gilts as rate pain intensifies
Pension funds struggling with low yields have held back from selling long-dated government bonds, causing the Bank of England to miss its gilt buying target on Tuesday.
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NewsFCA scheme becomes latest to benefit from discount rate move
The Financial Conduct Authority Pension Plan has become the latest in a series of schemes to announce an improvement in its financial position arising from an increase in the discount rate.
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NewsDe La Rue extends recovery plan and ups bonds
Banknote and passport printer De La Rue has agreed an extended recovery plan with its pension scheme trustees after its most recent actuarial valuation showed an increased deficit of £252m.
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NewsRestructure or rebrand: Finmeccanica’s DC changes
The decision by FuturePlanner, Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s defined contribution pension scheme, to replace two gilt funds with annuity protection funds despite significant structural overlap, raises questions about the extent to which DC restructuring may just be rebranding.
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NewsSmaller schemes dive into LDI pools
Smaller schemes are increasingly using liability-driven investment strategies, as the number of pooled mandates powers growth in the market, research this week from consultancy KPMG has shown.
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News
LDI crucial part of portfolio despite low yields, experts say
Schemes must not leave themselves vulnerable to interest rate risk by ignoring seemingly expensive liability-driven investment strategies, according to panellists at a Pensions Expert event on LDI held last week.
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News
Strathclyde adds EMD as cash flow turns negative
Strathclyde Pension Fund has approved a range of investment changes, including up to £300m in emerging market debt and £30m in core UK infrastructure.
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OpinionGilt-swap spreads widen: An opportunity for pension schemes?
From the blog: Investing in UK government bonds or using interest rate swaps are two of the more popular ways by which defined benefit pension schemes aim to match their liabilities.
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News
PiP calls on government to bridge infra gap
The Pensions Infrastructure Platform has called on the government to make UK infrastructure more appealing to investors, in an effort to address the mismatch between government hopes for infrastructure investment and schemes’ need for returns.
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News
April changes offer 'excuse' for DB schemes to shut up shop
Analysis: The death knell for defined benefit is edging closer, consultants say, as the end of contracting-out, low yields and impending government revisions to pension tax could see all FTSE 250 companies completely close their DB schemes by the end of this year.
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FeaturesFujifilm develops its DC default fund approach
Fujifilm is overhauling its defined contribution default fund to improve its performance and relevance to members, as schemes continue to rethink DC glide paths following the pension freedoms.
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OpinionHow underpricing political risk could hit pension funds
Grexit and the Brexit are just two of the economic risks facing the UK's pension funds today, and their potential impact should not be discounted.
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Opinion
The battle for DB: Ideas to turn around its fortunes
From the blog: Foggy heads met misty eyes on the morning after the gala dinner at last week’s NAPF/PLSA conference, as four high-profile industry figureheads laid out their ideas to save defined benefit in the DB Debate.
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Features
The Pensions Trust outperforms after investment governance change
Multi-employer scheme The Pensions Trust has changed its investment governance structure to reduce bureaucracy, beating its benchmark in the process.
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Features
Lancashire drops bonds in favour of equity, credit and infrastructure
While everyone acknowledges the incredibly high price of gilts in the current environment, which is wreaking havoc with pension scheme funding levels, few have taken the controversial move of getting rid of their allocation to bonds altogether.