All articles by Daniel Brooksbank – Page 205
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Features
'Compromise of a compromise'
After years of debate and some false starts, in the end the European directive on occupational pensions came down to a “compromise of a compromise” worked out between a few key players meeting just before the crucial vote at the European Parliament. At stake was, in the words of European ...
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Features
Waiting for the peace dividend
It goes without saying that the aftermath of the US-led war against Iraq is the dominant theme for the US markets and economy. Or does it? For some market participants, while seeing a post-war rally, the pre-war picture still holds and the same problems remain. If unemployment is anything to ...
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Features
Who's for private equity?
Pension funds have been identified as one of the factors that could help in the development of the European private equity industry. The European Venture Capital Association says that it has identified 10 indicators – of which five are tax related – which can contribute to “shaping” a favourable environment ...
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Features
Stoxx ready for next five years
Daniel Brooksbank In February this year, the Dow Jones STOXX indices celebrated their fifth birthday. But the celebration was surely muted given the jaded performance of European markets in the last few years. Indeed, the Dow Jones STOXX 50 index declined by more than 3% in March, taking its year-to-date ...
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News
Bulgaria to raise state pension
BULGARIA – Bulgaria is set to raise its pension payment to 50 leva (25.7 euros) a month from 46.64 leva as of June.
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Stoxx slams new FTSE
SWITZERLAND – The head of index provider Dow Jones Stoxx says the new FTSE-Euronext pan-European index series is a “copy” of the DJ Stoxx 50 – and that many institutions won’t shift index providers in the current market.
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EU’s Bolkestein to speak at ICGN conference
NETHERLANDS – The European Union’s internal markets commissioner Frits Bolkestein is set to speak at the International Corporate Governance Network’s ninth annual conference in Amsterdam in July.
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ECB critical of pace of pension reform
GERMANY – The European Central Bank has criticised the “very slow” introduction of European pension reform.
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Italian pension reform may spark “discontent”
ITALY - Moody’s Investor Services says the current reform of the Italian pension system, coming in the midst of a recession, could “spark social discontent”.
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Watson Wyatt hires senior investment consultant
UK – Consultancy firm Watson Wyatt has hired a former actuary at insurer General Accident as a senior investment consultant.
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ECB sees pension fund growth in new EU states
POLAND – The European Central Bank says it expects pension funds to develop over time in the European Union’s new member states.
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UK’s opposition slams consultants, actuaries
UK – The UK’s main opposition party has attacked pension consultants and actuaries for the current dire state of the pensions industry.
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Belgium needs major pension reform - OECD
BELGIUM - Belgium needs to contemplate major reform of its pension system, says the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which says the country faces a “crossroads”.
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News
ABN Amro asset management profit falls 26%
NETHERLANDS – Net profit at ABN Amro’s asset management division declined by 26.3% to 14 million euros in the first quarter.
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News
Germany lukewarm on pension reform proposals
GERMANY – German social security minister Ulla Schmidt says the Ruerup Commission’s proposals on pension reform must not be allowed to upset the “social balance”.
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Deutsche AM sees 10-15 year bear market
UK - Deutsche Asset Management, the second largest manager of European pension fund assets, says the current bear market could last up to 10-15 years.
