All articles by Kevin Hall
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Features
Isle of Man's international package
On 1 January the Isle of Man took an important step towards becoming a key jurisdiction for international pension schemes. The Retirement Benefits Schemes (International Schemes) Regulations 2001 came into effect, creating a framework that enables IoM government- approved international retirement benefits schemes, catering for non-resident members or individuals, to ...
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News
Isle of Man passes international pensions laws
ISLE OF MAN- The Isle of Man has taken an important step towards becoming a key jurisdiction for international pension schemes by introducing Retirement Benefits Schemes (International Schemes) Regulations 2001 at the beginning of the year
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Features
Time running out for reform
Despite being one of the most favoured nations for EU assimilation the Czech Republic continues to be inward-looking when it comes to investment reform and pensions. It is indeed a measure of the failure of many other countries in central and eastern Europe to create capital markets that the Republic ...
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Features
Second pillar needs support
Hungary is gearing up for an election in the spring, and the government is facing a serious challenge from the main opposition party, both on current policy and in the opinion polls. Nevertheless, it is showing determination in pressing ahead with EU accession legislation, including significant reforms of the capital ...
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Features
Slovenia on EU track
It now seems the dim and distant past when Slovenia seceded peacefully from the then Yugoslav Republic. Although it really is not that long ago, the small republic has come a long way since. While the world concentrated on the rebuilding of the republics shattered by the Balkan war, Slovenia ...
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Features
Consultants face uphill task
Looking back over last year, eastern and central Europe remained something of a black hole for consultancy firms, both multi-national and local. Despite their best efforts the companies have failed to persuade local pension funds of the need for their services. This has meant closures, a scale down in operations, ...
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Features
Start of manager close down
From being joint top-of-the-class Poland is now the subject of disapproving looks from the headmasters of Brussels. Having taken on an enormous reform of the social security, education and health system in 1999, the new government which came to power in September last year is grappling with macro economic problems ...
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Features
Consolidation hints abound
In line with most other European exchanges those of eastern and central Europe have suffered a disappointing year. Although traditionally less dependent on hi-tech stocks, nonetheless they caught a cold when the larger western exchanges caught a cold earlier this year. There are, nonetheless, some bright spots with at least ...
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Features
Difficult times
Recently when any overview of the Nordic exchanges has been prepared, the logical starting place is usually Sweden. This is because the OM Group has been one of the most active and high profile organisations in the world of exchanges. Last year attention focused on the bid for the London ...
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Features
Gescartera probe fuels political row
What began as an investigation into the activities of Spanish brokerage company Gescartera has developed into a political crisis for the ruling Partido Popular (PP), and a worldwide search for embezzled funds and ‘black money’ accounts Casualties already include the head off the stock market’s regulatory body and a senior ...
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Features
Battling over the benchmark
One of the most significant and explosive cases of the year got underway at London’s High Court last month. Significant, because the ramifications for the pensions industry are enormous, and explosive because neither side can afford to blink first in a case that could run for up to eight weeks. ...
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Features
Working the corridors of power
Since its formation in 1981 the European Federation for Retirement Provision has undergone dramatic structural changes, whilst remaining faithful to the aims set out at its first gathering in Paris in September of that year. Originally established under a brief constitution, the stated purpose of the organisation was to “represent ...
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Features
Pan-Euro pensions threat to islands
The Channel Islands hold a unique constitutional position in Europe, being neither sovereign states nor colonies or territories. Although not a part of the UK they are possessions of the Crown, to which they owe allegiance as successors to the Duke of Normandy. Furthermore, they do not form a part ...
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Features
Telecoms influence pervades market
The summer months saw some signs of distress in the more esoteric corners of the market, notably corporate bonds and convertibles. The immediate problem was, not surprisingly the telecoms sector, where bond yields exploded and convertible prices collapsed. Despite this, an analysis of euro corporate bonds shows them matching bank ...
