AUSTRALASIA - The median Australian superannuation growth fund was up 20.4% in the year ending February while the New Zealand Superannuation fund was up 17.4% from the start of its fiscal year in July.

US - Despite concerns over whether or not public pension funds have set unrealistically high return targets, a new report shows that long-term returns have beat assumptions.

EUROPE - European Union finance ministers failed to agree on a draft law to regulate hedge funds and private equity firms, which the U.K. said could hurt London's competitiveness as a financial centre.

NETHERLANDS/US - Dutch asset manager APG has filed a suit against Bank of America (BofA) alleging the firm misled shareholders in the lead-up to its acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

SWEDEN - AP7's Premium Savings and Premium Choice funds both bounced back last year after a torrid 2008.

US - The North Carolina pension fund has hired Credit Suisse to manage a US$230m private equity fund that will target in-state companies.

US - The California Public Employees' Retirement System has announced plans to ask 58 of the top US firms in its global equity portfolio to adopt the majority vote standard in uncontested elections for corporate directors.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) said it returned 6.5% per annum for the past 20 years, providing its first peek into its investment operations since inception in 1976.

SOUTH AFRICA - Brian Molefe has resigned as chief executive officer of South Africa's Public Investment Corp., the continent's biggest pension fund manager, the company said.

UK - Schemes looking to cut investment costs through the use of pooled funds actually face 30% higher annual manager fees, Lane Clark & Peacock warned.