FINLAND - European pension funds scooped up nearly a fifth of Finland's recent €3bn (US$4.4bn) bond issuance, the State Treasury said.

Romanian pension funds; US private equity; Watson Wyatt UK appointment

BELGIUM - The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) - the representative body for the European investment management industry - has announced the creation of the "President's Advisory Council".

CANADA - The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said it will lobby for an overhaul of the Canadian pension system, calling for mandatory pension participation, a national system of pension insurance, and expanding the mandate of the Canada Pension...

GLOBAL - Sovereign wealth funds invest about US$1trn in international equity, less than half the amount of assets under management at the ten largest sovereign wealth funds, a new report found.

AUSTRALIA - New South Wales shadow treasurer Mike Baird is calling on the state to create bonds suitable for self-managed superannuation fund investors that would then be used to fund state infrastructure projects.

UK - The £4.1bn (US$6.5bn) Merseyside Pension Fund has retained fixed income managers Schroders and Legal & General following a formal review and tender process.

US - New York state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli will have some company as he leads the state's US$116bn pension fund if a new legislation calling for the abolition of the single-trustee model is passed.

US - The Fresno County Employees Retirement Association (FCERA) has terminated Brandywine Global Investment Management for poor performance, despite the firm offering to drop its performance fee to zero.

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has partnered with Sterling Partners to acquire the Livingston International Income Fund for C$8 (US$7.65) per unit, Livingston said.