For the first time since March 2020, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee decided to cut interest rates by 0.25% to 5% in August. Read more here on the latest decision and our overall outlook for the UK economy.

After two years of industry consultation, the Pensions Regulator’s Defined Benefit (DB) Funding Code of Practice was laid in Parliament at the end of July. The Code gives practical guidance for trustees on how to comply with all DB scheme funding requirements. Chris Heritage, Director, and Andrew Stewart, Head of Client Team, share our initial reflections on the new Code here.

In line with market expectations, the Bank Of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) again voted to maintain interest rates at 5.25%. Read Ross Barr’s, Senior Multi-Asset Strategist, comments on the latest decision, how inflation trends have improved through the year, and how fiscal conditions will limit the incoming government’s room for manoeuvre here.

The UK General Election will take place on July 4th. We share our reaction and expectations on fiscal and monetary policy, as well as what this will mean from a UK pensions policy perspective.

On 9th May, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee again voted to maintain interest rates at 5.25%. Notably, the vote was split (7 to 2) with a minority of MPC members voting for a rate cut to 5.00%. Read our thoughts here on the latest decision and the updated economic forecasts.

Cardano, the investment management and advisory business, today announces the appointment of Guinevere Taylor to the new role of Head of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Relationships. Read more here.

Our view is that the Statement of Strategy is predominantly a risk filter tool for TPR, rather than a risk management tool for trustees. We are concerned that in some areas, the Statement of Strategy asks for more than trustees might otherwise consider, and in other areas, the information required falls short of best practice and we have concerns that trustees may believe they are adequately assessing covenant when all they are doing is providing TPR with data. Read our response to The Pensions Regulator’s consultation here.

Cardano, the pension advisory and investment management specialist, has been appointed as the fiduciary manager for the Grant Thornton Pensions Fund.

The Bank of Japan ended its 8-year regime of negative interest rates, abolished yield curve control (YCC), and phased out purchases of risk assets. David Goldberg, Investment Strategist, gives his thoughts on the market outlook and what the shift in policy means here.

Today, 6th March, the Chancellor delivered the Spring Budget. Commenting on the latest economic forecasts and the impact on companies with defined benefit pension schemes, Shweta Singh, our Chief Economist, and Nick Gibson, Managing Director, comment.

Today, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) again voted to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. Shweta Singh, Chief Economist at Cardano, shares her thoughts on the latest decision and economic forecasts

Today, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain interest rates at 5.25%. Shweta Singh, Chief Economist at Cardano, shares thoughts on today’s announcement and what it means for the outlook for UK monetary policy next year