ALBANY (AP) -- New York's pension fund for public workers has reported a 6 percent return on investment in its latest quarter to a market value of nearly $141 billion.

The Common Retirement Fund for more than 1 million employees, retirees and beneficiaries was valued about $7.8 billion higher for the quarter ending Dec. 31.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says it benefited from a stock market rally and 84 percent of benefits were paid from investment earnings.

Following an actuarial review, the fund last year lowered its assumed rate of return on investments from 8 percent to 7.5 percent.

Its total return for three quarters was 9 percent.

Its value dropped from its historic high of about $154 billion in spring 2008 to $110 billion a year later in the recession.

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