Bonds

CHILE - Chilean pension funds are boosting holdings of foreign bonds to record levels after a dearth of local corporate sales pushed yields to a two-year low.

ASIA - Investors are underestimating the opportunities for Asian local currency bond markets, Legg Mason affiliate Western Asset Management believes.

There are some significant influences affecting the annuity market, and they could actually be just the start. Vince Smith-Hughes takes a look at what's going on

GLOBAL - Pension funds should be investing at least 50% of their assets in emerging markets, Ashmore head of research Jerome Booth suggests.

Chemicals company Croda International is changing the accrual rate of its pension scheme for new members, despite a slight improvement in its scheme deficit.

Balanced pooled funds ended their run of positive quarters with a negative return of -8.9% for Q2 of this year, statistics show.

IRELAND - Ireland's Department of Social Protection is considering proposals that would see pension schemes purchasing annuities invested in government bonds to help fund liabilities.

JAPAN - Japan's public pension fund sold more government bonds than it bought for the first time in nine years, underscoring concern that an aging population will make domestic investors less able to finance state borrowings.

When hotel and restaurant business Whitbread decided to review its choice of investment funds for its DC scheme members, a diversified investment approach within one growth fund was found to be best. Laura Blows reports

EUROPE - The EU is facing criticism from asset managers over its plans to raise its part of the €750bn (US$922bn) rescue package for embattled eurozone nations.