The Markets

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.

The funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan in November improved 2.1 percentage points to 93.9%.

Accounting for the source of funded ratio increases within defined benefit (DB) plans is critical for preventing imprudent fixed-income purchases, new research shows.

The cost of purchasing pension annuities from insurers fell to 108.3% of liabilities during October, down from 108.9% to reach the smallest margin measured in 2013.

Socially responsible investing is no longer just a matter of screening out companies with interests in the “big five” industries—alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography and firearms.

The American Benefits Council wants to clarify possible misconceptions surrounding deficit information from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).