The Markets

Defined benefit (DB) plans have enjoyed a funded status boost of late, but what does this mean for their future?

Witnesses during a U.S. Senate committee hearing argued that defined contribution (DC) plan design is key to solving the retirement crisis in America.

The global economy is improving, inflation will stay moderate and equities will outshine bonds in 2014, say Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust.

Defined contribution plan participants saw average daily transfer activity decline in November compared with October, according to the Aon Hewitt 401(k) Index.

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) earned a “AAA” grade from the Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP).

Defined contribution (DC) plans have already taken some lessons from defined benefit (DB) plans.

The cost of purchasing pension annuities from insurers increased to 108.4% of liabilities during November.

Improving stock markets and strong inflows helped investors in stock mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) earn nearly $2 trillion during 2013.

The United States had nearly $12.5 billion of inflows for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) during November, increasing year-to-date inflows to $163.8 billion.

Even with strong capital market performance, many liability-driven investors decreased equity allocations this year in favor of fixed-income vehicles.

When it comes to determining a sustainable drawdown rate, everyone is searching for the right answer, says Gregg Fisher of Gerstein Fisher, an investment management firm.

Actively and passively managed funds can complement each other and allow investors to fill portfolios with the best investment opportunities, both within and across markets.

An analysis has found a fixed-income strategy that may work regardless of interest rate behavior, according to Principal Financial Group.

Perception is reality—at least when it comes to movements in investor optimism.

The Dietrich Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) Index increased fractionally during November.

The Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index shows that the funded status of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit (DB) pension plans improved to 93.9% during November.

The Towers Watson Pension Index reached a five-year high during November.

A research brief from Russell Investments finds that funding levels for pension plans improved significantly in the last year.

Investors can expect more broad-based and self-sustaining recovery next year as economic conditions in the U.S. and Europe continue to improve, new analysis shows.

Both defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) plans can benefit from outsourcing chief investment officer functions, says Debra Woida, delegated investment services head at Towers Watson.