NETHERLANDS - Dutch pension funds' returns for the second quarter are in excess of 7% and have come back to positive territory for the first time since 2007, data from the Dutch central bank De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) revealed.

SWITZERLAND - Swiss pension funds are set to post an average growth in excess of 9% for the first three quarters of 2009, the latest Swiss institutional survey by Lusenti Partners revealed.

UK - The Invensys Pension Scheme has appointed BNY Mellon to provide it with derivatives collateral management services.

The Invensys Pension Scheme has appointed BNY Mellon to provide it with derivatives collateral management services.

EUROPE - The European Commission is planning a clamp down on derivatives trading by introducing restrictive measures in the European Union.

UK - The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is to close its defined benefit pension scheme to new members from January.

GLOBAL - The vast majority of institutional investors (81%) did not make any new commitments to infrastructure in 2009, a drastic slowdown in fundraising from last year, a survey from Preqin revealed.

UK - Bulk annuity sales could hit £3bn (US$4.9bn) this year after pension funds purchased more than £2.4bn during the first three quarters of 2009, Mercer said.

Bulk annuity sales could hit £3bn this year after pension funds purchased more than £2.4bn during the first three quarters of 2009, Mercer says.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund levy should be limited beyond the current two-year time horizon, the National Association of Pension Funds said.