FRANCE - The Fonds de reserve pour les retraites said it is 143% funded, more than enough needed to fund its liabilities through to 2024 as mandated by the government.

AUSTRALIA/CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has bought a 50% stake in an Australian shopping centre for A$455m ($488m).

Northern Trust, AP3, Permal, LGIM, JP Morgan Asset Management, BlackRock

GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days.

GLOBAL - Pension fund managers should develop a currency policy separate from their asset allocation policy, attendees at the GP Currency Management Focus heard yesterday.

GLOBAL - Attempts to move away from the US dollar as the currency reserve are ‘fraught with danger' said Paul Chappell, chief investment officer at currency manager C-View.

GP speaks to global asset managers about where they see opportunities arising from the recovery.

SWEDEN/US - Swedish pension buffer fund AP2 and US pension fund manager TIAA-CREF have formed a joint venture targeting agricultural real estate.

US - BlackRock has lured the trio who launched Merrill Lynch's private equity business to help kick-start direct private equity offerings within BlackRock.

CANADA - A Canadian pension plan has invested $104m in the new version of Acadian Asset Management's managed volatility strategy that mixes developed and emerging equities, the firm said.