gilts

Five years on and the financial crisis shows no sign of ending. But many investors, understandably fearing the prospect of further shocks, are looking in all the wrong places, says Tim Price, investment director at PFP Wealth Management.

Strategic bond fund managers Richard Hodges from LGIM and Fidelity's Ian Spreadbury both expect UK government bond yields to remain at their abnormally low levels for the foreseeable future.

The yield on UK gilts has fallen to a new record low during trading today, as demand for safe havens picks up once again following indecision from the Fed over expanding its stimulus programme.

Europe's major markets climbed on the first day of trading after Spain was granted a €100bn bailout for its banking sector.

Eight of the biggest annuity market players cut their rates in May, with Canada Life and Aviva both making a further cut on Thursday leaving retirees with stark options, analysis has found.

Yields on UK government debt were trading at an all-time low on Wednesday amid fresh panic in Europe, which sent equity markets reeling.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has moved to relax rules governing some UK pension schemes as low gilt yields are leaving hundreds underfunded.

FIVE THINGS

John Walbaum puts forward a different approach to helping retirees attain a decent income.

The government's use of quantitative easing (QE) has given pension funds a boost, Bank of England (BoE) economist David Miles has claimed.