What Steven referred to about the pension black holes is not just caused by leeches, like Green, it's been caused by the very low rates of return on their usual major investment - fixed income bonds.
Rates have been low for quite some time now and have gone to all time lows since the BoE rate cut. Cutting the rate of return even more.
As a result, pension funds have been forced to look for greater yield elsewhere - which leads me to the rise in the equity markets. Normally pension fund weightings are heavily in favour of fixed income, as it's generally far safer than equities. But the hunt for yield has led many funds to drastically alter these weightings.
Rates have been low for quite some time now and have gone to all time lows since the BoE rate cut. Cutting the rate of return even more.
As a result, pension funds have been forced to look for greater yield elsewhere - which leads me to the rise in the equity markets. Normally pension fund weightings are heavily in favour of fixed income, as it's generally far safer than equities. But the hunt for yield has led many funds to drastically alter these weightings.
