SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE Asset Management Alternative Investments' has launched a fund aiming to replicate hedge fund returns through an alternative beta approach.

THE ALTERNATIVE Investment Management Association has appointed Andrew Baker to the newly-created position of deputy chief executive.

GLOBAL - Pension schemes are potentially at risk of being hit by the US sub-prime mortgage crisis, the longer the shockwaves continue, claim analysts.

AUTOMATICALLY increasing pension contributions by just one percentage point a year for five years could boost retirement incomes by half, according to Barrie & Hibbert.

US - North Carolina's Retirement Systems (NCRS) increased their assets from $68bn to $75bn by almost doubling targets and producing a 14.8% return for the fiscal year 2006.

Pension funds shed gains in solvency; Standard Life hires Merrill as it considers bid; Couples hit by fall in pensions income; Aima appoints Baker to fight UK hedge fund clampdown

US - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) has reportedly been criticised by campaigners for allegedly flouting its own environmental guidelines.

IRELAND - Battered by a large exposure to domestic equities and volatile stock markets all Irish managed pension funds suffered during July 2007, according to new figures from Hewitt Associates.

UK - Cardiff County Council pension fund has stipulated it would only appoint transition managers conforming to T-Charter standards, despite the code not yet being finalised.

THE Association of Consulting Actuaries is continuing to push for changes to current legislation which would enable risk-sharing schemes to flourish.