Liquidity requirements for defined contribution schemes are hampering their investment returns and ability to compete with defined benefit plans on the replacement income provided in retirement, an institutional investor group has warned.

Employees too young to be auto-enrolled have been a notable group opting in to workplace saving, the NAPF has reported, calling it one of the most interesting aspects of auto-enrolment so far.

News analysis: The government’s decision to ban consultancy charges in all auto-enrolment schemes has been broadly welcomed, but the change is predicted to have a big impact on smaller employers.

The Principles for Responsible Investment has fleshed out the details of the mandatory elements of its revised reporting framework, as it attempts to “demystify” the process ahead of its rollout later this year.

The £8.8bn West Yorkshire Pension Fund has kicked off plans for a series of roadshows later this year to communicate to its almost 100,000 active members changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Video: The NAPF's Joanne Segars welcomes the support for schemes in the Pensions Regulator's 2013 funding statement, but questions its interaction with the watchdog's growth objective, in the latest edition of Policymakers and Decision-makers (5:04).

News analysis: The Pensions Regulator’s 2013 annual funding statement has set out the flexibilities open to schemes in the tough economic climate, but pension professionals have said those carrying out valuations this year could find the process challenging.

Continued deliberation over the Pensions Infrastructure Platform is slowing overall investment in the asset class as schemes await detail on how the initiative will be set up, investment experts have reported.

The London Borough of Havering Pension Fund is planning to invest in delayed local property projects including residential housing, as more council funds increase their exposure to property to match liabilities and boost community investment.

Pension professionals have welcomed plans for the government to legislate on further minimum standards for auto-enrolment to ensure schemes meet quality benchmarks.

Local authority funds have ramped up their interest in multi-asset strategies as they try to manage the impact of volatility on their investments, according to new investment data.