HONG KONG - As much as HK$126bn in pension fund cash will be up for grabs when employees are given the right to freely choose their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) investment companies.

THREADNEEDLE has expanded its presence in both the hedge fund and emerging market sector with the acquisition of Convivo Capital Management.

INCLUDING - OTPP firm over BCE repricing; Indian government criticised.

AUSTRALIA / UK - Institutional fund manager, QIC, has invested in the Henderson Global Investors' Global Equity Multi-Strategy fund.

UK - A quarter of the UK's larger companies do not provide proper reports to shareholders on audit practices, according to the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF).

POST office workers have called off strikes over pensions and pay after Royal Mail colleagues also agreed to suspend industrial action.

US - The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has assumed responsibility for the pensions of more than 1,400 workers and retirees of Scovill Fasteners Inc, a button and zipper maker.

INCLUDING: EUROPE - Mercer appoints leaders; CANADA - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan acquires Chilean company; FRANCE - Fortis Investments' second quarter results; AUSTRALIA - Russell boosts institutional sales team; US - CalPERS develops pension technology...

ANNUITIES are becoming less acceptable to consumers while demand for income drawdown continues to grow, according to research from Skandia.

UK - Surplus levels of pension funds have dropped by £48bn, according to the latest figures released from the Pension Protection Fund's (PPF) 7800 Index.