http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep Growth into Swiss investment funds continued in April despite lower returns from markets, according to the Swiss Funds Association. The association’s latest figures show net inflows during April of CHF785m (€629m) over the month, although AUM declined slightly to CHF752.9bn (€601.9bn), down 0.2 per cent or CHF 1.7bn (€1.4bn) on a month-on-month basis http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/swiss-investors-sticking-with-bonds .php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/swiss-investors-sticking-with-bonds .php The European Commission is to postpone new solvency-II style capital requirements for defined benefit pensions http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EC-postpones-Solvency-II-plans-for-pensions.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EC-postpones-Solvency-II-plans-for-pensions.php The Irish government faces criticism over failure to reform rules governing the distribution of pension funds on the wind-up of a defined benefit schemes http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/IBEC-slams-governments-failure-to-deal-with-inequitable-priority-order-rules.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/IBEC-slams-governments-failure-to-deal-with-inequitable-priority-order-rules.php The European Parliament has urged member states to bolster multi-tier pension provision and ensure public pensions help people to achieve a decent standard of living http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EU-Parliament-urges-governments-to-protect-state-pensions.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EU-Parliament-urges-governments-to-protect-state-pensions.php Strong investment performance saw Swiss pension funds experience a marked improvement in their cover ratios during 2012, according to Swisscanto’s latest annual survey http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Healthier-investment-returns-result-in-cover-ratio-improvements-for-Swiss-funds.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Healthier-investment-returns-result-in-cover-ratio-improvements-for-Swiss-funds.php UK pensions no longer lead Europe in their allocations to equities following another year of cutting exposures in a focus on managing funding volatility, according to Mercer http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/UK-pensions-now-trail-neighbours-allocations-as-desertion-of-equities-continues.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/UK-pensions-now-trail-neighbours-allocations-as-desertion-of-equities-continues.php Pushing ahead with a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) in Europe could reduce returns for active pension funds by almost 8 per cent, new research for the Association for Financial Markets in Europe warns http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/AFME-report-warns-of-damaging-FTT-effects-on-pension-funds.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/AFME-report-warns-of-damaging-FTT-effects-on-pension-funds.php The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has launched a consultation on developing a single market for personal pensions across the EU http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EIOPA-launches-consultation-on-pan-European-personal-pensions-market.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EIOPA-launches-consultation-on-pan-European-personal-pensions-market.php News that France has fallen back into recession has increased pressure for structural reforms http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Triple-dip-adds-impetus-to-pensions-reform-in-France.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Triple-dip-adds-impetus-to-pensions-reform-in-France.php 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 http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Fund-sales-push-through-Cypriot-uncertainty.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Fund-sales-push-through-Cypriot-uncertainty.php 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 http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Dutch-regulator-identifies-QIS-flaws.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Dutch-regulator-identifies-QIS-flaws.php Emerging market equities and debt will be among the key asset classes seeing growth in 2013, according to a survey of fund managers http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Search-for-returns-to-boost-emerging-market-investment-says-Aon-Hewitt.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Search-for-returns-to-boost-emerging-market-investment-says-Aon-Hewitt.php Hedge fund administrator Helvetic has criticised leaked European Commission plans to tighten rules for finance firms such as hedge funds and money market funds http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Warning-over-EU-shadow-banking-plans-confusion-following-leaks.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Warning-over-EU-shadow-banking-plans-confusion-following-leaks.php 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 http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Slow-but-steady-progress-for-Philips-with-liability-matching.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Slow-but-steady-progress-for-Philips-with-liability-matching.php 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 http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Irish-eyes-still-smiling-on-pension-funds.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Irish-eyes-still-smiling-on-pension-funds.php 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 http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EM-prospects-remain-weak-says-ING.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/EM-prospects-remain-weak-says-ING.php Institutional investors are turning to new fixed income investments in the search for yield, according to Mercer’s annual Global Manager Search Trends report http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Investor-searches-widen-in-hunt-for-growth.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Investor-searches-widen-in-hunt-for-growth.php 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) http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/MMF-total-net-assets-worldwide-increase-by-4bn.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/MMF-total-net-assets-worldwide-increase-by-4bn.php Almost two thirds of French voters would support further increases in the retirement age, according to a new poll published by newspaper Les Echos http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/French-poll-finds-majority-support-but-little-hope-for-pensions-reform.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/French-poll-finds-majority-support-but-little-hope-for-pensions-reform.php The hunt for yield by European fund investors continues with record inflows into long-term open ended funds in the first quarter, according to Morningstar’s latest European asset flow data http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/No-sign-yet-of-the-great-rotation-while-demand-for-yield-continues-says-Morningstar.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/No-sign-yet-of-the-great-rotation-while-demand-for-yield-continues-says-Morningstar.php A third of European pension schemes struggle to keep up with regulatory developments, according to a new survey. A further 46 per cent said keeping up with changes was slightly difficult http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/European-pensions-feeling-the-pressure-from-regulation.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/European-pensions-feeling-the-pressure-from-regulation.php 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 http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/66-Dutch-schemes-forced-to-cut-pensions-to-meet-funding-requirements.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/66-Dutch-schemes-forced-to-cut-pensions-to-meet-funding-requirements.php The European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) ruling in favour of Waterford Crystal workers in their case relating to the loss of pensions following the company’s insolvency has been welcomed http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/ECJ-Waterford-Crystal-ruling-welcomed.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/ECJ-Waterford-Crystal-ruling-welcomed.php The European exchange traded products (ETP) market will more than double in size by the end of 2017 to reach $900 billion in assets, the global head of Blackrock’s iShares funds said today http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Institutional-interest-helping-to-drive-growth-in-exchange-traded-funds.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Institutional-interest-helping-to-drive-growth-in-exchange-traded-funds.php Developing best practice in default funds across EU is hampered by a wide variety of approaches in the different member states, according to the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA). The EU insurance and pensions regulator’s Survey Of EU Practice On Default Investment Options shows “clear divergence” in member states’ approach to default funds http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Default-practice-patchy-across-Europe-EIOPA-study-finds.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Default-practice-patchy-across-Europe-EIOPA-study-finds.php The association for Swedish workplace pensions schemes, Tjänstepensionsförbundet’s is the latest pension association to join PensionsEurope http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Swedish-Occupational-Pension-Fund-Association-joins-PensionsEurope.php http://www.europeanpensions.net/ep/Swedish-Occupational-Pension-Fund-Association-joins-PensionsEurope.php