Irish-managed pension funds up 15.5%

IRISH-managed pension funds are up 15.5% since March, thanks to a positive market performance in eight of the last nine months.

The Managed Fund Index from HR consultants Hewitt Associates shows a +1.1% return for November. The index has grown over 20% since its poor -7% showing in March, with only October’s -2.8% dip diverting the upward curve since then.

Evelyn Ryder, director of Investment Consulting at Hewitt, said: “We are hoping to end the year in positive double digits, but it remains to be seen how high those digits will be. We had seven positive months from March to September, then negative in October and back to positive in November. It just goes to show how volatile the markets can be.

“At this time last year, we were facing a return of -30%. We are about a third of the way back from where we were in the middle of 2007. We have a good bit to go, but the markets are making progress.” The average return on Irish managed funds for the last 12 months is just short of +12% to the end of November, with an overall return of 11.9%.

“Equity markets rose in November, reflecting investor confidence in the economic recovery,” said Evelyn Ryder. “However, while the major economies have moved out of recession, employment and consumer spending figures remain weak.

Hewitt is due to issue its full Pension Managed Fund Survey today.