gilt yields

FTSE350 companies' defined benefit (DB) deficits fell as bond yields rose on hints of an end to quantitative easing (QE), research from Mercer shows.

A significant proportion of contributors were concerned that schemes are over-exposed to interest rate risk, but one quarter said this was not a problem.

The value of expressions of interest in the new 55-year gilt launched by the Debt Management Office (DMO) reached £12.8bn within the first hour of trading.

The value of defined contribution (DC) lifestyle funds has fallen by 5% on average since May as bond prices dropped, research from Hargreaves Lansdown shows.

The rise in the yield on government debt has cut private sector deficits by over a quarter, research from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) finds.

Just 15% of contributors say schemes should put de-risking plans on hold until gilt yields show signs of improving, although two out of five contributors think they should consider delaying.

Minute gains in the FTSE has seen private sector defined benefit deficits increase for the second month in a row, adding £20bn, research from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) shows.

The BT Pension Scheme has seen its defined benefit deficit more than double to £5.7bn as discount rate falls pushed up liabilities, its final year results show.

The combined defined benefit deficit of FTSE350 firms has risen 50% during the first four months of this year, research from Mercer shows.

The Pensions Regulator has urged trustees to be more flexible when agreeing deficit recovery plans in its annual funding statement.