Friends Provident merger discussions may spark bids; Debt crunch to hit stocks, says Morgan Stanley; FSA chief accuses US of poor flotation standards; Swing into surplus not all it seems

HYMANS ROBERTSON has launched a fund manager database and screening system in a bid to expand its research universe.

UK - Societe Generale Asset Management (SGAM) and Capital International have lost global and UK equities mandates from Suffolk County Council pension fund.

INDIA - The State Bank of India (SBI), UTI Asset Management and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) have been appointed to manage part of the R17bn (US$400m) government pension fund.

AUSTRALIA - Over Aus$4bn has been contributed into Australian workers' superannuation accounts, according to the government.

HSBC Actuaries and Consultants has expanded its investment consultancy practice to provide a dedicated resource based in Scotland.

ITALY - Italian pension reform has generated controversy after it was revealed the European Commission could challenge it over the retirement age for women.

THE LONDON Borough of Ealing pension scheme has appointed brokerage and investment technology firm BNY Global Transition Management as transition manager for assets totalling £550m.

THE lifeboat fund amendment attached to the Pensions Bill to rescue scheme wind-up victims has been scuppered by the government

US - Fidelity Investments was one of three managers dropped by the Chicago Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund as the portfolio moved towards a heavier index weighting.