The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has launched a consultation on developing a single market for personal pensions across the EU.
Responding to the European Commission’s identification of “untapped potential to realise further efficiency gains through scale economies”, the discussion document outlines two approaches to creating a single market for personal pensions products (PPPs): passporting, in which providers can operate in any European Economic Area (EEA) country, which is likely to be made difficult due to different tax regimes in member states; and the 2nd regime, providing an alternative uniform European system operating parallel to different national regimes, which would be difficult and time consuming to set up
Growth in UCITS fund slowed in March due to weaker sales of equities and outflows from money market money market funds, but inflows continued, according to European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) figures published today
The Dutch pensions regulator (DNB) has emphasised the difficulty of interpreting the QIS outcomes clearly, arguing that “more impact studies are needed on specific aspects of valuation and solvency capital requirements before conclusions can be drawn
News that France has fallen back into recession has increased pressure for structural reforms
Final figures from the Dutch central bank DNB show a total of 66 Dutch pension funds have been forced to curtail pensions due to funding shortfalls
Emerging market equities and debt will be among the key asset classes seeing growth in 2013, according to a survey of fund managers
Institutional investors are turning to new fixed income investments in the search for yield, according to Mercer’s annual Global Manager Search Trends report
Underperformance in emerging markets (EM) is likely to stay, according to ING Investment Management. Its latest investment view paints a gloomy picture for EM equities, although the asset manager says India, Mexico and Turkey continue to offer opportunities
Philips’ pension fund has seen a slight improvement in funding but remains under the required level set by regulator the De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). According to its latest annual report, the pension’s funding ratio for 2012 ended at 104 per cent, up from 103 per cent the previous year but below the 107 per cent required. Its recovery plan remains in place
Hedge fund administrator Helvetic has criticised leaked European Commission plans to tighten rules for finance firms such as hedge funds and money market funds
MMF total net assets worldwide increase by €4bn to €3,663bn in 2012, according to latest figures from the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank)
Irish pension funds saw continued growth in April to bring returns for the year to date to 8.4 per cent, according to Rubicon Investment Consulting
Almost two thirds of French voters would support further increases in the retirement age, according to a new poll published by newspaper Les Echos
Following reforms to Italy’s first pillar, now is the time for a greater focus on implementing more sophisticated investment solutions in the second pillar and increasing participation, finds Peter Davy
Ilonka Oudenampsen examines what impact different legislative changes over the coming year will have on the European pensions industry
Public pressure and the aftermath of the global financial crisis have pushed pension funds to take a closer interest in the activities of the companies in which they invest. Matt Ritchie looks at the rise of engaged investing, and how funds are using this approach to their advantage
Kin Ly explains how the widespread pension reforms across Europe make it the right time to focus on improving pension communication, using a multi-faceted approach
Laura Blows speaks to Joanne Segars about her new role as chair of PensionsEurope (formerly EFRP)
David Adams explores how the Swiss pension system tries to keep its strengths by regulatory changes and changing investment strategies
