All interest rates articles – Page 6

  • Opinion

    Is there still a place for triggers in LDI strategies?

    2017-02-13T00:00:00Z

    How should schemes react to never seeing their hedging triggers hit, and is a time-based strategy better suited to the current rates environment? Axa Investment Managers' Jonathan Crowther, Barnett Waddingham's Sophia Heathcoat, Dalriada Trustees' Simon Cohen, Hymans Robertson's Alen Ong, Law Debenture's David Felder and Standard Life Investments' Mark Foster pick apart the implementation issues for today's LDI investors.

  • Opinion

    What changes are needed in LDI strategies?

    2017-02-09T00:00:00Z

    Where are interest rates going to move over the next few years, and should schemes be worried by signs of rising inflation? Is cash flow the overriding concern? Axa Investment Managers' Jonathan Crowther, Barnett Waddingham's Sophia Heathcoat, Dalriada Trustees' Simon Cohen, Hymans Robertson's Alen Ong, Law Debenture's David Felder and Standard Life Investments' Mark Foster discuss.

  • News

    How has LDI changed over the last year?

    2017-01-31T00:00:00Z

    Have falling interest rates over the last year finally persuaded trustees and sponsors that yields may not revert to the mean, or do they expose liability hedging as expensive flattery of scheme balance sheets? Axa Investment Managers' Jonathan Crowther, Barnett Waddingham's Sophia Heathcoat, Dalriada Trustees' Simon Cohen, Hymans Robertson's Alen Ong, Law Debenture's David Felder and Standard Life Investments' Mark Foster discuss.

  • Barnett Waddingham
    News

    Trustees told to focus less on market volatility

    2017-01-26T00:00:00Z

    From Brexit to Trump, the political events of 2016 added to market uncertainty throughout the year, but trustees should take care not to be too fixated on volatility.

  • Vivek Paul
    Opinion

    Is liability-driven investment facing a backlash?

    2017-01-23T00:00:00Z

    The prospect of hefty US fiscal stimulus has triggered talk of global reflation. The subsequent jump in government bond yields globally has prompted analysts to lift interest rate forecasts. But we are still in a structurally low interest rate environment.

  • News

    Increase caps add to rules lottery amid inflation spike

    2017-01-17T00:00:00Z

    The consumer price index spiked by almost half a per cent in the year to December 2016, narrowing the ‘rules lottery’ gap between the official inflation measure and the retail price index.

  • Simon Nicol
    Opinion

    How long can the triple lock last?

    2017-01-06T00:00:00Z

    For 30 years until 2010, the value of the state pension was linked to prices and as such inevitably declined in value over this long period relative to rising wages.

  • News

    DB outlook 2017: Investment problems remain as deficits dip

    2017-01-04T00:00:00Z

    Defined benefit deficits worsened during December to an aggregate IAS 19 deficit of £434bn, as experts added sustained low interest rates and cash flow problems to their concerns for pension funds over the course of 2017.

  • Features

    Reuters scheme simplifies strategy in liquidity search

    2016-12-08T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • Abbey Mills pumping station (Thames Water)
    News

    Thames Water pours money into LDI

    2016-11-21T00:00:00Z

    Trustees of Thames Water’s two defined benefit pension schemes have been focusing on risk reduction over the past year, introducing a new liability-driven portfolio for both funds. 

  • Peter Dean
    Opinion

    Are interest rates too low to hedge?

    2016-10-11T00:00:00Z

    If there is one topic that is being discussed repeatedly at defined benefit pension scheme trustee meetings, it is the impact of falling gilt yields.

  • Features

    Invensys swaps linkers for nominal in hunt for cash flow

    2016-09-09T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • News

    Schemes urged to revisit risk as deficits soar

    2016-08-31T00:00:00Z

    Defined benefit pension deficits have escalated since last month, but despite the challenging environment and gloomy outlook, some experts say schemes should stay calm and consider re-evaluating their risk portfolios.

  • Getty Images
    Features

    Vodafone scheme diversifies with alternatives additions

    2016-08-23T00:00:00Z

    Vodafone has made a foray into a number of new asset classes, including alternative beta, alternative credit and private market investments, for greater diversification.

  • News

    Pension schemes steer clear from selling gilts as rate pain intensifies

    2016-08-10T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • Opinion

    A cut too far?

    2016-08-05T00:00:00Z

    Editorial: It was expected, but that makes it no less painful: pension scheme trustees are licking their wounds after the Bank of England decided yesterday that a further cut in the bank rate would help the UK economy back on its feet, together with more quantitative easing.

  • News

    Hedged Aviva schemes survive rate cut

    2016-08-05T00:00:00Z

    Pension schemes sponsored by insurance giant Aviva have reported a marked increase in their accounting surplus owing principally to falling interest rates, but experts warn of further pain for schemes which are not hedged against interest rate risk.

  • News

    LDI crucial part of portfolio despite low yields, experts say

    2016-06-21T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • Helen Toner
    Opinion

    How to prepare for a 2016 valuation

    2016-05-31T00:00:00Z

    For schemes with actuarial valuations due in spring 2016, market conditions are different to those in 2013, with lower yields on fixed interest gilts resulting in higher values being placed on the technical provisions.

  • Fixed Income Live
    Opinion

    Opportunities, risks and manager selection in fixed income

    2016-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Fixed Income Live: Five industry experts discuss fixed income investment – the direction of interest rates, where the opportunities lie and how schemes can make sure they get the right manager to profit from them.