ITV’s plan to strengthen its balance sheet with a rights issue was scuppered due to uncertainty over its pension deficit, according to analysts.

A university in Georgia, USA has carried out MRI scans of people while they were making a series of financial choices. When financial advice was given beforehand, the parts of their brain that make valuations showed no response. However, when no advice was given there was significant activity in this part of the subjects’ brains.

The pensions ombudsman has ordered a company to consider reinstating discretionary incr-eases for members of its pension scheme.

Valuations of key companies are more attractive than they have been for 10-15 years, Aberdeen Asset Management has claimed.

A plan for fundamental reform of the UK’s publicly listed companies has been laid out by corporate governance consultancy PIRC.

Marks & Spencer has hit back at suggestions that its pension scheme is not investing responsibly.

Watson Wyatt is urging pension funds not to be rash in firing fund managers in the current investment climate.

Some schemes will be able to use the current period of deflation to offset against future increases to pensions in payment.

Schemes are at a greater risk of fraud or dishonesty by employers during the recession, according to a statement issued by the Pensions Regulator.

An influential free-market think tank is recommending the government replace public sector defined benefit (DB) pensions with defined contribution (DC) arrangements.

Analysis: Announcing this year’s Budget was never going to be an easy task for the chancellor, but the taxation rules surrounding pensions seem destined to become ever more complex, says Charlie Kirby

Spring is upon us – and we have a spring in our step at the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority as we get ready to launch both the investment consultation and the scheme order and rules, the latter being a joint effort with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Sharia-compliant funds have outperformed many western investments during the credit crunch, but is there room for them to enter the wider market, asks Liz MacMahon

Benchmark strategies are momentum strategies by another name and create a herd mentality.

In March, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published the first batch of draft regulations following from the 2008 Pensions Act. The regulations set out how the auto-enrolment process will work along with what duties will be placed on the employer. The regulations will have a massive impact on how pensions work in the future.

Last week’s Budget shows that the financial crisis has created a spirit of radicalism in policy, but it has also exposed a lack of commitment in shareholder engagement, says Tom Powdrill

John Shotton has to be the only person in pensions who has learnt some of his business and management skills first hand from current Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

In this month’s Trusty 30 survey, Pensions Week asks schemes to reflect on the best performing groups in the financial crisis, and whether any events over the last two years have affected their strategies.

Although commercial property has been hit by the downturn, it is set to make an early recovery relative to other asset classes and pension funds are beginning to take notice, says Nathan Hargreaves

Actuarial consultant Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP) has promoted five of its staff to partners.

Hermes BPK Partners has appointed Mark Smith-Lyons as chief operating officer.

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has hired Hugh Cutler as head of distribution to develop new business strategy in the UK and overseas.

Legal & General Property has appointed Gerry Blundell as a strategy adviser.

Pensions Week garners the opinions of four risk experts to gauge the market’s opinion on the various approaches to derisking and what they believe funds are keen to implement in the current climate.

From buyout to buy-in: Tom Willetts analyses the significant deals in the market over the past year, and looks ahead at the shape of the industry over the coming months.

All risks transfer

A full buyout transaction where the insurance company assumes responsibility for all the risks borne by the scheme – such as incorrect data risk, GMP equalisation risk and other legislative risks

Chris Martin, founded Independent Trustees Services 17 years ago. Having participated on over 30 buyout and buy-in transactions, including insolvency related buyouts in the 1990s and early 2000s, he is ideally placed to answer some of the most burning questions surrounding the future of derisking for pension schemes.

Trustees charged with managing the pension risk of DB schemes face challenging times ahead, says Gordon Clark, but derisking through an effective monitoring framework could help smooth the path.

Neither a buy-in nor a buyout are easy ways to offload a pension scheme’s liabilities. However, if trustees and their sponsors are well prepared, the transition can proceed smoothly, says Emma Watkins

The vital statistics of each scheme need to be assessed,as do the aims and risks, when navigating your way on the road to derisking, says Andy Reed

Four industry experts put forth their vision for a best-fit derisking solution that is relevant to the mmajority of UK pension schemes.

BULK ANNUITY BUSINESS WRITTEN BY QUARTER