Standard & Poor's

With more pension funds looking to invest in commodities in a bid to diversify away from equities, Mark Goode talks to experts about potential investment opportunities, and how emerging markets are fuelling growth

Investors typically look at the movement of the yen against the US dollar, but David Walker warns not to overlook the impact of other Asian currencies

The austerity measures that swept through Europe in 2010 took their toll on pension systems. Richard Lowe reports

CZECH REPUBLIC - Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek wants changes to the pension program, aimed at reducing the fiscal deficit and improving the country's credit rating, to take effect by 2012.

GLOBAL - Aegon has reported an increase in underlying earnings before tax increase from €414m ($531m) to €522m in Q2, supported by improved financial markets.

CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech Republic's debt rating may be raised if the new government follows through on pledges to reduce spending, including an overhaul of the pension system, Standard & Poor's said.

US - Nine public pension funds are calling for Massey Energy shareholders' to withhold support from three board directors claiming they have failed to carry out their safety oversight duties.

US - Fitch Ratings has downgraded Illinois general obligation (GO) taxable bonds to A- from A over concerns about the state's unfunded pension liabilities and fiscal gap.

Institutional investors flooded into commodities last year as prices soared. Industry experts say the asset class' popularity isn't likely to wane in 2010, as Lynn Strongin Dodds reports

After commodities' healthy rebound from the lows of 2008, Lynn Strongin Dodds discusses whether the asset class can go on to regain its pre-credit crunch highs