Canadian pension plans, assisted by a strong fourth quarter, earned double-digit growth for the fourth year in a row, according to a survey from RBC Dexia Investor Services.

The survey shows that pension funds earned 7.2% in the fourth quarter of last year, boosting year-end performance to 12.9%.

“With many of the world’s major stock markets finishing the year at or near record highs, global equities were the star performers of 2006,” said Don McDougall, director advisory services with RBC Dexia.

The report also showed that pension funds did well in the domestic market. Canadian plans beat the S&P TSX Composite benchmark by one percentage point, earning 18.3% in 2006.

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