Strategic shift brings deficit rewards

Consultancy's latest Aon200 Index shows schemes gaining from strategic rethink

A serious shift in investment strategy has reduced the deficits of 200 leading final salary schemes by £9bn in the last month, according to Aon research. The pension and benefits consultancy's latest Aon200 Index revealed an improvement from a £30bn deficit in June to £21bn last month. Elsewhere, the proportion of schemes in deficit has also fallen from 75% to 69%. Long-term inflation expectations have played a part in prompting the rise in the index, falling from their peak of 4.1% at the end of June to 3.85% at end July. The firm said the credit crunch passing its one-year anniver...