IRELAND - Falling French and German bond yields coupled with declining equity markets in August have left Irish pension funds with the renewed prospect of funding difficulties, Hewitt Associates says.

US - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has updated guidance over increasing transparency in the financial reporting of companies with multiemployer pensions.

AUSTRALIA - Superannuation funds will have to pay closer attention to their decision-making process and board composition in the wake of the Cooper Review recommendations, Russell Investments warns.

The London Pensions Fund Authority is considering teaming up with other schemes to help improve its shareholder engagement in emerging markets.

EUROPE - Pension funds should be able to decide for themselves whether the benefits of shareholder engagement outweigh the costs involved, the European Federation for Retirement Provision (EFRP) believes.

NETHERLANDS - Northern Trust has appointed Wim van Ooijen to head up its Netherlands business.

CANADA/UK - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Onex Corp. have garnered sufficient shareholder support for their £2.89bn ($4.4bn) purchase of Tomkins Plc.

US - Pennsylvania's Public School Employees' Retirement System posted a 14.59% investment return in the year ended June 30, adding $6bn in value to the value of the fund.

US/EUROPE - Pension funds from Europe and the US have been given the go-ahead to proceed with a securities fraud lawsuit against Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.

The Local Government Pension Scheme should increase its retirement age to 66 and limit pensionable pay to £75,000 a year, the London Pensions Fund Authority says in its submission to the Public Service Pensions Commission.