by Paul Sweeting | Dec 2, 2009 | All, Longevity
New research has found a possible genetic explanation for why women live longer than men on average. It seems that the gene that makes male mice stronger than female mice also weakens their immune system. Researchers discovered this by creating mice with two mothers...
by Paul Sweeting | Nov 21, 2009 | All, Pensions
According to Professional Pensions, the Accounting Standards Board is standing by its plans to move to risk-free rates when valuing pensions for accounting purposes. Moving from the current approach (which uses AA-rated corporate bond yields) to a risk-free approach...
by Paul Sweeting | Nov 3, 2009 | All, Pensions
An article in today’s FT considers a proposed reduction in the rate of pension accrual for Church of England clergy, referring to the poor performance of the pension scheme’s assets due to the heavy investment in equities. There are a couple of problems...
by Paul Sweeting | Nov 3, 2009 | All, Industry News
It seems that the nationalised UK banks are due to be broken up in response to a perceived lack of competition. This is a sensible move, and could also have a further benefit: it could reduce the number of financial organisations that are “too big to...
by Paul Sweeting | Oct 22, 2009 | All, Industry News
It is reported today that the highest earning employees of US banks in receipt of government aid will have their salaries slashed and remaining remuneration paid in stock that must be held for years. These are both ways in which the significant agency risks present in...
by Paul Sweeting | Oct 6, 2009 | All, Longevity
The Conservatives announced today that they would bring forward a proposed rise in the State Pension Age for men. Thank goodness for that. When life expectancy is rising – as it has been for years – there are only two choices you have if you want to avoid...
by Paul Sweeting | Oct 2, 2009 | All, Longevity
Danish researchers have reported that projecting past life expectancy forward suggests that half of the babies being born now can expect to live to 100. Perhaps. Making projections over that sort of timescale are very difficult, and it is dangerous to give information...
