EUROPE - Hedge fund managers' client base has become more institutional than retail over the past year - leading to an "insitutionalisation" of the industry, International Asset Management said.

Hedge fund managers' client base has become more institutional than retail over the past year - leading to an "insitutionalisation" of the industry, International Asset Management says.

CANADA - The head of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) said the country's pension system needs to be reformed and suggested creating a mandatory supplemental pension plan to complement existing arrangements.

US - Manager search activity increased in the first half of the year as investors funnelled 327% more assets into new fixed income mandates than last year, according to data compiled by Mercer.

GLOBAL - Pension funds are increasing their exposures or considering an entry into the convertible bond market as they try to take advantage of these underpriced securities, industry figures say.

EUROPE ­- Listed companies need better ways to communicate with long-term institutional and retail investors to avoid a continued outflow of funds from equity markets, EuropeanIssuers (EI) said.

US - Exactly one year after the largest corporate pension funds touted a 100% funded status, liabilities hit a record high while solvency levels swooped to 75% last month, according to data by Milliman.

GLOBAL - Some 181 of the world's largest global investors have issued a joint call for policy makers to take "strong action" against climate change ahead of key negotiations to be held in Copenhagen this December.

US - The Indiana Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF) has hired Martin Currie to run a US$210m international equity mandate.

US - The Pension Boards United Church of Christ has tapped Northern Trust as global custodian for its US$2.4bn pension plan.