British pension and life insurance funds raised exposure to non-domestic equities in April as these assets gained ground over the month, according to fund research firm Lipper on Wednesday.

Pension funds overseeing a total of 94.45 billion pounds ($168.5 billion) of assets raised oversees equities to 25.3 percent of all portfolios from 25.2 percent a month ago.

Japanese equity exposure was lifted to 3.7 percent from 3.6 percent, while north American stocks rose to 7.2 percent from 7.1 percent over the month.

Pension funds kept their exposure to British equities unchanged at 56.6 percent. British bond exposure fell to 10.2 percent from 10.3 percent in March.

Among life insurers controlling 35.258 billion pounds of assets, overseas stock exposure rose to 24.3 percent from 24.1 percent over the month.

(Lipper)