UK - Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the UK's second largest pension fund, has highlighted its commitment to alternative assets by hiring Fraser Booth and Geoffrey Geiger.

GLOBAL - Investment consultants have questioned whether the majority of pension funds will implement 130 / 30 strategies, despite a new study claiming the philosophy is not a passing fad.

BRAZIL - A Brazilian investment firm claims to have recruited a US$40bn pension plan and a £25.9bn ($52bn) British scheme in its bid to create a Brazil-oriented fund containing of some of the world's 300 largest pension funds.

CONSULTANTS Watson Wyatt has developed a check list for companies who are considering making changes to their scheme.

GERMANY - German asset manager Union Investment has teamed up with R+ V Insurance to offer a new funds-linked pension portfolio for self-employed people and government workers.

UK / FRANCE - Insight Investment has awarded distribution rights to Cohen Brothers Financial Services for the French institutional market in an expansion of Insight's European expansion strategy.

Trustees of three pension plans operated by tyre manufacturer Goodyear Dunlop have appointed Hewitt Associates to provide the schemes with full actuarial and investment services.

US - Proposed regulations restricting campaign contributions to board members have been approved by the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS).

Annuity bar placed on trustees; Central banks inject yet more liquidity; Cash for personal finance courses; Fidelity managing director to take sabbatical

INCLUDING: UK -Mercer hire; CANADA - CPP developments; UK - BGI's new strategy chief; UK - PPF appoints two new non-executive board members