Market Moves
Surging Stocks Improve Pension Funding Levels, But De-Risking Isn’t at Risk
A hot equities market, plus some accounting help from interest rates, aided the plans.
Aggregate investment return of 11.72% wasn’t enough to counter falling interest rates.
Aggregate deficit of 100 largest defined benefit plans falls to lowest level since March.
Funded levels fluctuated from 85% down to 72% and back up to 82% during first six months of the year.
Asset gain of $308 billion in April-June period lifts estimated funded ratio to 71.2% from 66%.