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Pension schemes
have undergone a ‘landmark shift’ in their approach
to investment in 2008 according to Aon Consulting.
Following the release of figures from the Aon200 Index which show
that the deficit for the 200 largest private final salary schemes
now stands at £21bn, the firm has concluded that scheme trustees
are following two current clear trends in response to turbulent
market conditions.
The first is a shift from equities to alternative growth investments
and diversified growth portfolios, which has been made possible
by increased innovation in the diversification space. The second
is the exchange of low yielding government bonds for higher yielding
corporate bonds to take advantage of the higher returns currently
on offer.
Aon’s research on its own clients has revealed a fourfold
increase in investment activity during the second quarter of 2008,
compared to the first quarter of 2008. The firm also said that most
schemes had so far survived relatively unscathed from the credit
crunch.
- Pensions Age
August 2008
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