UK - The current fiscal and political strain on the eurozone could prove to be too much for the weakening euro and there is a chance the currency could collapse, attendees at the Global Pensions Currency Management Forum in London heard.

US - Retailer J.C. Penney has closed a US$400m debt offering, most of which will be used to make a voluntary cash contribution to its pension plan.

US - Michael Travaglini, executive director of the US$44bn Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Trust, is quitting after six years as state lawmakers consider capping compensation at the public fund.

GLOBAL - The European rescue package has provided an out for long-term investors that had underestimated credit risk in their European sovereign holdings, PIMCO managing director and head of European portfolio management Andrew Balls said.

The European rescue package has provided long-term investors with the opportunity to sell their sovereign debt holdings, PIMCO says.

FRANCE - France's Industry Minister Christian Estrosi said the government may raise the country's retirement age beyond 60 as part of a plan to stem the deficit in the nation's pay-as-you-go pension system.

CANADA/US - OMERS Private equity has completed its acquisition of United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC).

US - The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest US public pension, wants an extra US$600.7m from the state, which is confronting a $19bn budget deficit.

US - The California Public Employees Retirement System, the largest U.S. public pension fund, voted to split the roles of chairman and chief executive officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently held by Jamie Dimon.

ITALY - State Street Corp. has completed its €1.28bn (US$1.6bn) cash purchase of Intesa Sanpaolo's Securities Services business (ISPSS), including the firm's custody and fund administration units.