Tube strike will cause massive disruption, says union; Sub-prime crisis will drag America into recession, says boss of largest US lender; Barclays' CDO chief in Europe quits as sub-prime crisis hits funds; Turmoil throws investing strategies awry

US - Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, has awarded a core fixed-income mandate to Aberdeen Asset Management and Pyramis Global Advisors.

ROWANMOOR Pensions has retained the contract to provide outsourced administration for Standard Life's small self-administered scheme portfolio.

JAPAN - Nobu Shimizu, the former director-general of the investment management department at the Y110trn Japanese Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), has left the organisation and moved to an independent administrative corporation.

A TRUSTEE board has been found guilty of maladministration for failing to address conflicting evidence concerning the distribution of a death benefit.

INCLUDING - UK - Henderson profits up, AuM down; IRELAND - Pensions Board appointment; ASIA-PACIFIC - Barings confident on Asia Pacific

US - The State-Boston Retirement System has filed a lawsuit against US pharmaceutical firm Ventana Medical Systems after it rejected a takeover bid by Swiss firm, Roche Holdings.

GLOBAL - A new report has said pension funds remain hesitant about investing in alternatives.

GREECE - JPMorgan and North Asset Management have reached an agreement with all parties affected by a structured bond debacle involving four Greek government pension funds.

EUROPE - Fitch Ratings announced it has been actively monitoring all its ratings for European money market and enhanced cash funds, focusing on exposures to less liquid instruments in the funds, in the structured and securitised credit area.