OREANDA-NEWS. Nearly all of the 2nd pillar pension funds operating in Lithuania recorded positive returns in the first half of 2015, while the average change in an investment unit was 4.70 per cent. Since the beginning of the year the value of the net assets of 2nd pillar pension funds has increased by EUR 178.19 million and amounted to EUR  2,044 billion (LTL 7,057 billion).

“After an impressive start in the first quarter of this year, the second quarter was not as successful for pension funds. Turmoil in European and global financial markets led to a decline in the unit value of most 2nd pillar pension funds in the second quarter; however, due to a very successful beginning of the year, the return of one only 2nd pillar conservative investment pension fund in the first half of this year has been negative,” says Audrius ?ilgalis, Senior Specialist of the Financial Services and Markets Analysis Division of the Supervision Service at the Bank of Lithuania.    

In the first half of this year, the investment unit value of the group of investment funds investing in equity grew the most — by 9.80 per cent. The growth in the investment unit value of pension funds within other groups was less robust: of medium equity share ones — 5.37 per cent, low equity share ones — 2.67 per cent, conservative investment ones — 0.49 per cent.  

In 2015, Sodra transferred to pension funds EUR 67.37 million (LTL 232.63 million) in 2015, another EUR 14.98 million (LTL 51.72 million) were transferred by participants themselves, while the amount of additional contributions financed from the state budget was EUR 17.93 million (LTL 61.88 million). The investing activities of 2nd pillar pension funds in the first half of 2015 led to a EUR 77.91 million (LTL 269.01 million) increase in the pension funds’ assets, excluding the funds paid out to the participants who retreated.

As of 30 June 2015, 26 2nd pillar pension funds, with 1.19 million participants accumulating their pension in them, operated in Lithuania.

The investment unit value of 3rd pillar pension funds grew by an average 6.06 per cent in the first half of 2015, the value of the net assets managed by them — by EUR 6.09 million (to EUR 53.6 million or LTL 185.06 million). At the end of the first quarter, 12 3rd pillar pension funds, with 44.4 thousand participants accumulating their additional pension in them, operated in Lithuania. In the first half of 2015, the return of 10 3rd pillar pension funds was positive, of 2 — negative. 

Comprehensive data of the performance of 2nd and 3rdpillar pension funds is published on the website of the Bank of Lithuania.