discount rates

FTSE 350 defined benefit (DB) schemes are "bunching" around an average discount rate of 2.8% due to higher yields and a tougher stance from auditors, Hymans Robertson research finds.

It is important to look back at how the discount rate methodology came about in the first place, says Brighton Rock Group's head of research

Centrica has announced the funding hole across its pension schemes fell by 97% to £29m at the end of June 2018.

Iain Clacher and Con Keating say there is much confusion over pension valuations and argue all the methods currently used are wrong. They say a pragmatic resolution could be to use the expected return on assets

Controversy over the discount rate used to value defined benefit pension liabilities is nothing new but, as Tim Wilkinson and Frank Curtiss explain, the flaws may be more serious than many realise.

Supermarket giant Tesco has halved its overall defined benefit (DB) deficit after adapting its discount rate calculations to better reflect trends in long-dated corporate bond yields.

All 6,000 UK schemes had a surplus of £358bn by the end of last month when calculated under a best estimate return on their assets, according to First Actuarial.

The combined deficit of FTSE 100 defined benefit (DB) schemes grew by more than £10bn over 2016, Barnett Waddingham research has estimated.

Over half of pension professionals believe the 'gilts plus' valuation method is unhelpful in the current economic environment, according to Aon Hewitt research.

Centrica's defined benefit (DB) pension deficit soared by 855% in 2016, its latest annual accounts have revealed.