Irish pension managed funds made strong gains during October, with the average gain being 6.7%. Standard Life Investments were ranked top this month with a return of 7.8%, while Merrion Investment Managers propped up the league table with a return of 5.6%. This month's gains have broadly offset the losses incurred over the third quarter, with the average return over the past four months being zero.

The first ten months of 2015 have seen solid pension managed fund returns, with an average return of 10.0%. Merrion Investment Managers top the table over the year to date with a return of 13.2%, while New Ireland produced the lowest return at 7.7%. Over the past twelve months, the average fund return was 14.4%. Returns for the year ranged from 19.6% (Merrion Investment Managers) to 9.8% (New Ireland).

The average managed fund return has been a very strong 14.9% per annum over the past three years. The five-year average return is a healthy 11.5% per annum. Irish group pension managed fund returns over the past ten years have been 5.5% per annum on average.