August 2026

UK. Reform’s new economic adviser has called for end of pensioners’ triple lock

Reform UK’s new economic adviser has previously called the pensions triple lock unsustainable, advocated privatising the NHS and welcomed migration as a poverty alleviation tool, the Guardian can reveal. Robert Jenrick, Reform’s economic spokesperson, has appointed Mitchell Palmer, a rightwing economist at the free-market Adam Smith Institute, as one of his key aides. Palmer’s background is as a champion of economic liberalism, in many cases putting him to the right of Reform’s existing policy platform. His appointment comes amid tensions within...

US. CalPERS trims Strategy stake as Bitcoin exposure dips to $35.5M

CalPERS’ position in Strategy, a company known for its significant Bitcoin treasury, reflects a cautious but continued interest in cryptocurrency-related equities. The decline in both share count and value aligns with broader market fluctuations and the company’s stock performance. Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has become a proxy for Bitcoin investment due to its substantial holdings of the cryptocurrency. For CalPERS, this stake represents a small fraction of its overall portfolio, but it signals a measured approach to digital assets. The pension...

Pakistan launches digital pension verification, ending bank visits

Pakistan has launched a digital pension verification system that allows pensioners to complete the process remotely, ending the need for routine visits to banks and making pension disbursements faster and more convenient. The move is part of the government’s broader effort to digitize pension administration and reduce the paperwork faced by retired public sector employees. In Pakistan, pensioners have traditionally been required to complete periodic verification procedures, including visits to banks or other offices, to establish that they are still...

South Korea’s Pension Fund Faces Backlash Over Chinese AI IPO Bets

The National Pension Service (NPS), which manages the precious retirement funds of the people, has been engulfed in a fierce controversy over transparency and ethical management standards as it was revealed that it has continuously invested in the initial public offerings (IPOs) of Chinese military and security-linked companies. In a situation where major advanced nations, including the United States, are strengthening measures to prohibit investments in Chinese military-related companies amid accelerating U.S.-China security conflicts, criticisms are erupting from within and...

UK. Standard Life launches £2bn pension risk transfer partnership

Standard Life announced Thursday a pension risk transfer partnership backed by investments of up to £2 billion ($2.72 billion) with a consortium led by CVC and Prudential Financial to target large UK pension schemes. The partnership, called Standard Life PRT Solutions, will be funded through capital commitments of up to £2 billion over five years. Standard Life will contribute £500 million, while CVC committed £400 million. Other consortium members will provide the remaining funds. The consortium includes Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), MS&AD...

Nigeria. Military pensioners protest in Abuja over benefit adjustments

Scores of retired military personnel on Wednesday protested in Abuja over the alleged non-implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases approved for serving military personnel. The pensioners gathered at an open field in Area 10, Garki, near the Ministry of Defence, carrying placards with various inscriptions urging the Federal Government to implement outstanding salary adjustments in their pensions. The protest triggered the deployment of security personnel, including soldiers, police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence...

UK pension fund wants a climate tipping points analysis

UK’s largest pension fund wants to understand climate tipping points UK’s Nest, the countries public workplace pension scheme, is seeking proposals to understand how climate tipping points could impact portfolio resilience. Climate scenarios such as those from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), often do not include tipping points, which are abrupt, often irreversible, changes to the Earth’s ecosystem. Some tipping points have already been breached or are close to be being breached, such as the bleaching of coral reefs. Nest...

Why Kenyan pension schemes are moving Sh597bn into guaranteed funds

Small retirement schemes are increasingly turning to guaranteed pension funds to shield members' capital against ongoing market volatility. Data from industry disclosures indicates that guaranteed funds under management have surged to Sh597 billion, reflecting a sharp safety push across the sector. A guaranteed fund is an insurance-based investment product that channels assets into equities, bonds, and index funds. Crucially, these vehicles provide a minimum guaranteed value at maturity or upon the death of a policyholder, regardless of downturns across broader...

Portugal considers automatic workplace pensions to boost retirement income

Workers in Portugal could be automatically enrolled in workplace pension plans under proposals aimed at strengthening retirement incomes and addressing growing pressure on the country’s public pension system. The government-appointed expert group studying the sustainability of Segurança Social – Portugal’s state social security and pension system – presented its final recommendations on Tuesday after around 18 months of work. The government received the report last month and has said it will consider its recommendations. One of its main proposals is an...

Nigeria. Risk management must become the pension industry’s competitive advantage

Nigeria’s pension industry has earned its reputation as one of the nation’s most successful financial sector reforms. Since the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the Pension Reform Act 2014, pension assets have grown steadily, millions of Nigerians have enrolled, and confidence in retirement savings has improved considerably. As the industry expands into an increasingly digital and uncertain world, merely complying with regulations is no longer sufficient. Risk management must evolve from a regulatory obligation into a...