Funded Status of U.S. Pensions Rises to 84.3 Percent

Author: BNY Mellon
Published: 2011/01/05
Topic: Americas - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan 3.8 percentage points higher to 84.3 percent.

Introduction

Main Item

A strong December rally in equities drove the funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan 3.8 percentage points higher to 84.3 percent, their best position since March 2010, according to monthly statistics published by BNY Mellon Asset Management.

While the funded status for pensions was volatile throughout the year, it finished 2010 0.8 percentage points above the December 2009 level of 83.5 percent, according to the BNY Mellon Pension Summary Report for December 2010.

For December, assets for the typical corporate plan increased 3.8 percent, driven by a 6.8 percent rise in U.S. equities and an 8.1 percent boost in international stocks, according to the report. Liabilities fell 0.9 percent in December, due to an increase in bond yields as the Aa corporate discount rate rose from 5.32 percent to 5.43 percent, the report said.

Plan liabilities are calculated using the yields of long-term investment grade corporate bonds. Higher yields on these bonds result in lower liabilities.

"The 13.1 percentage point improvement in the typical plan funded status since the end of August is the largest four-month positive change recorded since we began reporting our monthly pension statistics in 2006," said Peter Austin, executive director of BNY Mellon Pension Services, the pension services arm of BNY Mellon Asset Management. "The driver of this improvement was U.S. equities, which posted returns in excess of 15 percent during this same period. A 51-basis point increase in the Aa corporate discount rate was an important, but secondary, contributor."

Austin added, "The last two years have been a challenge for pension plan sponsors. In 2009, plan sponsors experienced a steady, significant improvement in funded status as the financial crisis ebbed and confidence returned to the markets. In contrast, 2010 brought tumultuous shifts in funded status due to domestic and global economic challenges. It is unlikely that many sponsors in August expected to end the year with better funding than at the end of 2009. We expect U.S. plan sponsors to continue efforts to closely manage plan funding volatility. In particular, we believe adoption rates for risk reduction programs based on target funding levels will increase, especially in the presence of higher interest rates and strong equity returns."

BNY Mellon Asset Management is the umbrella organization for BNY Mellon's affiliated investment management firms and global distribution companies.

BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 36 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $24.4 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.14 trillion in assets under management, services $12.0 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.6 trillion per day. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com.

All information source BNY Mellon Asset Management as of September 30, 2010. This press release is qualified for issuance in the US only and is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or solicitation of securities or investment services or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or not authorized. This press release is issued by BNY Mellon Asset Management to members of the financial press and media and the information contained herein should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.