AUSTRALIA - State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) expect that exchange traded funds (ETFs) will continue to grow in popularity with Australian institutional investors as they come to grips with new legislation stemming from the Cooper Review.

UK/UAE - UK-based pensions and investment consultant LCP has opened an office in Abu Dhabi in a bid to meet increasing demand for advice in the region.

US - Mercer Investment Consulting has acquired investment consultancy Evaluation Associates from Milliman for an undisclosed sum.

AUSTRALIA - The A$9bn (US$9.6bn) HOSTPLUS industry superannuation fund has launched an online advice service that provides members with a personalised superannuation plan, including investments and insurance strategies.

AUSTRALIA - A proposed merger between Equipsuper and Vision Super has been postponed on the eve of the agreed date following objections from board members.

US - Prudential Retirement has completed the first pension buy-in transaction in the US with a $75m pension risk transfer.

US - The Teacher Retirement System of Texas has awarded LaSalle Investment Management a $200m mandate to invest in real estate co-investment opportunities around the globe.

UK - Hermes Real Estate Investment Managers Limited and LaSalle Investment Management have sold a £141.5m office block in the City of London to Invesco Real Estate.

AUSTRALIA -Plans to introduce a levy on regulated supers to help recompense members is unfairly favourable towards larger funds, industry bodies claim.

AUSTRALIA - The Gillard government will amend superannuation legislation to tighten the list of funds that are exempt from policing by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) it announced this week.