Alternative assets managed on behalf of pension funds globally by the top 100 managers fell by about 1 per cent in 2008, according to a survey* by Watson Wyatt in association with FTfm.

The movement, from $823bn (£494bn, €583bn) to $817bn, may not seem like much, says Carl Hess, global head of investment consulting at Watson Wyatt. But compared with the 40 per cent fall in equity markets last year, it is a positive story. PDF (please note all figures given relate to assets under management held on behalf of pension funds)