F&C records its first profit since merger with Isis three years ago; Cost of teacher's pensions rises; Upheaval in world markets undermines hedge fund action plans; AHM bankruptcy triggers jitters in Europe

TRINITY Mirror has cut its pension scheme deficit by £59m in six months and is planning to reduce the shortfall further following asset sales.

FIDELITY International has urged the government to scrap rules forcing employers to provide "gold-plated" defined benefits in a bid to save final salary provision.

GERMANY - Lawmakers have been warned that slashing the pensions of German MPs could backfire by making the position unattractive to future candidates.

INCLUDING: US - Alaska Permanent Fund returns 17.1%; UK - Credit Suisse appoints Yong-Moon Kim; UK - RREEF announces €2.067 bn final close of infrastructure fund

UK - British multi-manager IMS is working on a range of tax transparent pooled products that would allow UK pension schemes access to US equities without paying the 30% withholding tax applicable to direct investments.

AUSTRALIA - Labor has come under fire from the opposition after it announced its superannuation policy.

UK / Netherlands - F&C Asset Management said institutional outflows of £3.3bn largely reflected the pipeline of £5.2bn outflows it highlighted to the market on 31 January 2007.

INCOME from occupational pension schemes is falling while the number of pensioners living in severe poverty is on the rise, government statistics show.

PENSION fund solvency is improving across Europe, latest research by Lehman Brothers reveals