US - Major US employers expect to increase contributions to their pension plans to get a handle on soaring liabilities, a Hewitt Associates report revealed.

US - Moody's Investors Services has downgraded the long-term credit ratings of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) citing severe losses in assets.

UK - The Royal Mail pension scheme is straining under the pressure of a potentially record-breaking pensions deficit, the company said.

AUSTRALIA - Officials at the Australian Future Fund are in preliminary discussions with two Canadian pension plans about partnering up to acquire Australia's largest toll-road provider Transurban Group.

FRANCE - The Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites has hired six managers to run a combined €1bn (US$1.5bn) in investment grade credit dominated in euros.

UK - Alistair Darling's proposals to reform public sector pensions cover up a 45% hike in costs next year, independent pensions consultant Ros Altmann warned.

US - CalPERS' real estate assets are down nearly 50% over the past year and the pension fund's review of its real estate managers is "well underway," a report by its real estate consultant said.

NETHERLANDS - Pensioenfonds Horeca & Catering (PH&C) has hired BNY Mellon as custodian for its €2.8bn (US$4.1bn) portfolio.

US/UK - Legg Mason star stock picker Bill Miller predicts the US equity market could return up to 25% next year and has positioned his Value portfolio to take advantage of growth in the technology and financial sectors, he said speaking at the London...

SWEDEN - A new report to the Ministry of Finance on the efficiency of the Swedish AP funds suggests merging the four largest funds into a giant SEK745bn (US$105bn) pot and eliminating AP6, the smallest scheme.