EIOPA’s risk dashboard on occupational pension funds shows an overall stable risk assessment with market risks remaining as key concern

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published today its July 2024 risk dashboard for the institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs), which shows that their exposure to market and asset return risks remains high due to continued market volatility and real estate market vulnerabilities.

Macro risks are at a medium level with forecasted GDP growth for major geographical areas showing positive developments but remaining low by historical standards. Credit risks remain stable at a medium level with credit default swaps (CDS) spreads for corporate bonds increasing at the end of June 2024, while remaining broadly stable for government bonds.

Market and asset return risks are stable at a high level with volatility increasing in the fixed income and equity markets at the end of June and the latest data pointing to a continued decline in real estate prices across the Euro Area, mainly driven by commercial real estate. Recently available annual data shows a rebound in the IORPs' portfolio performance in 2023 driven by positive market returns.

Reserve and funding risks are unchanged at a medium level, with the financial position of defined benefit IORPs' remaining robust in the first quarter of 2024 supported by higher interest rates. Concentration risks are also at a medium level, with a decreasing trend compared to the previous quarter due to lower sectorial and geographical concentration in the IORPs' investment portfolio. IORPs' median exposure to banks and financial activities other than banking slightly increased.

All other risk categories are currently assessed at medium levels, with an increasing risk outlook for digitalisation and cyber risks over the next 12 months.

View the Dashboard

Background 

This IORP Risk Dashboard, based on the latest IORP reporting data with reference up to the first quarter of 2024, summarises the main risks and vulnerabilities in the IORP sector of the European Economic Area (EEA) for the different schemes, i.e. defined contributions (DC) and defined benefits (DB) through a set of risk indicators. The data is based on regulatory reporting collected from 625 IORPs. The IORP reporting information is complemented with market data with a cut-off date of end-June 2024.