Pension funds on rise again
Having lost nearly 50% of their value since the markets started to slide in early 2000, share prices have begun to recover some of the lost ground as investors start to buy back in to the various stock markets, raising prices from historic lows.
That boost to markets is reflected in pension fund returns moving into positive territory after years of falling returns. Overall the lift in share prices has led to a 9% rise in the average Irish Pension Managed Fund in the second quarter of 2003. However, over a five-year timeframe most funds are still seriously under-performing due to the market shakeout since the hi-tech crash in 2000.
