After a less than buoyant year, VER will increase its exposure to alternatives but is not making any drastic moves for 2008, writes Caroline Liinanki

Investors feel let down by the Finnish government’s decision to limit new property investment regulations to residential builds. Caroline Liinanki talked to several industry experts about their hopes for further consultation to bring about the inclusion of commercial real estate and infrastructure.

The financial and insurance supervisory bodies in Finland are finally set to merge after more than 10 years of talks, but how will the move affect pension funds, what level of power will the new organisation have and what does the industry think of the move? Caroline Liinanki reports

New regulations have allowed Finnish pension funds a 10 per cent increase in equity allocations, as well as more access to alternatives and non-eurozone investments. Caroline Liinanki reports.

The new Finnish pension investment regulations, which came into force in January, have prompted local pension institutions to expand their equity holdings, take new alternative asset classes on board and invest more outside the eurozone. The changes have also started a push towards foreign property funds.

For the first time in nearly 10 years, the Finnish pensions industry faces a major reform. The liberalisation of investment regulations has been largely welcomed, but concerns remain over last minute tweaks. Reeta Cevik reports.

Decreasing stock prices and increasing interest rates have taken their toll on Finnish pension funds over the first six months of 2006.

The Local Government Pension Fund hatches a three-year plan to seek higher returns from alternative assets, property and to enter the commodities market, while looking for higher risk in its bond portfolio, writes Reeta Cevik

In a series of steps to reduce the impact of future demographic change, Finnish institutions are set for a greater allocation to equities in order to increase opportunities for higher returns. Reeta Cevik reports

Tervetuloa lukemaan Financial Times Business –yhtiön Pohjoismaiden eläke- ja sijoitustoimialoille suunnatun ammattilaisjulkaisun talvinumeroa, joka aloittaa lehtemme toisen vuosikerran.

A total of 10 major Finnish companies dismantled their pension funds and transferred the liabilities to specialist pension insurance companies this year.