DB pension surpluses increase slightly over September, XPS analysis finds
DB pension surpluses increase slightly over September, XPS analysis finds
03 Oct 2024
- XPS Group estimates that the aggregate surplus of UK pension schemes on long-term targets remains extremely positive at approximately £186bn.
- Falls in gilt yields and equity markets early in September had reversed by the end of the month, leaving asset and liability values broadly unchanged from the month prior.
Over September 2024, UK pension schemes’ funding positions remained stable (relative to long-term funding targets) according to a new analysis from XPS Group. With assets totalling £1,471bn and liabilities of £1,285bn, the aggregate funding level of UK pension schemes on a long-term target basis remains extremely positive, at 115% of the long-term value of liabilities, as of 27 September 2024.
The strong funding levels of many UK pension schemes held firm through September as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to maintain the Bank of England base rate at 5%, with inflation within 0.5% of the Bank’s 2% target for the fifth consecutive month.
Attention has now turned towards the Chancellor’s Autumn statement on the 30th of October and a widely anticipated base rate cut when the MPC next meets on the 7th of November.
Henry Shore, Senior Consultant at XPS Group said: “With a highly anticipated budget and possible further rate cuts on the horizon, pension scheme funding levels have remained near record levels.
With these surpluses and with the new DB funding regulations now in force, many trustees and sponsors are now looking at their long-term strategies and strategy paths to assess whether insurance is the right route for them or if the scheme can be used to generate additional surplus for the benefit of both members and sponsors alike.”
Notes:
XPS DB:UK tracks the funding position of UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes on a long-term target basis and allows real time monitoring of changes and analysis of the reasons behind any movement.
XPS DB:UK Funding Watch monitors the combined deficit and funding level of UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes (i.e. all registrable schemes - including hybrids) on a long-term target basis using a discount rate of Gilts + 0.5%. It combines XPS’s market leading Member Analytics and the award-winning journey planning tool, Radar, enabling real time monitoring of changes and analysis of the reasons behind any movement.
An online version of XPS DB:UK is available here:
https://www.xpsgroup.com/services/xps-pensions/xps-dbuk-funding-watch/