Charles Cowling

UK pension funds finished 2012 in slightly better health than they began the year after a rise in asset values pushed average funding ratios to 90%, according to JLT Pension Capital Solutions.

The industry has welcomed the code of conduct on enhanced transfer value exercises and pension increase exchanges, but questions remain over how it will impact take-up of offers.

UK private sector scheme funding levels have fallen from 93% to 85% over the last year, leading to difficulties for firms with triennial valuations due, says JLT Pension Capital Strategies.

Combined UK defined benefit deficits improved by £5bn to total £265bn at the end of January, latest figures from the Pension Protection Fund show.

A "significant number" of FTSE250 companies operate a pension scheme which represents a material risk to the business, analysis reveals.

Proposals to bring iorps directive into line with solvency ii rules receive negative UK response.

Scheme bond allocations will hit 70% within five years as investors seek a "safe path" away from equity volatility to more stable assets, JLT Pension Capital Strategies predicts.

The Actuarial Profession has published a revised framework for use of discount rates in actuarial work following a two-year research and consultation project.

The aggregate deficit of UK defined benefit schemes improved by £15bn last month despite market volatility, thanks to price inflation outlook, Xafinity Corporate Solutions says.

Making further, deeper changes to public sector pensions is the only way they will ever be fair to taxpayers, Charles Cowling says.