NETHERLANDS - Emerging markets and high yield bonds were reportedly the best contributors to the fixed income returns of 0.5% in the Unilever pension fund, 'Progress'.

CHINA - AEGON has acquired almost half of the Chinese mutual fund manager, Industrial Fund Management Company (IFMC), to enable IFMC to expand its activities in the pensions market.

OVER eight-tenths of finance directors are set to inject additional cash into their company pension scheme to slash deficits, research from Prudential shows.

US - CalPERS has flexed its muscles by refusing to support board member elections in companies where it has made a significant investment.

UK - The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has made a significant allocation into the alternative asset market by investing US$200m (£100.7m ) into Partners Group Alternative Beta Strategies.

FINAL salary schemes will be hit with a second wave of closures to new entrants and future accruals, the Association of Consulting Actuaries warn.

GREECE - JPMorgan and North Asset Management have said they would be prepared to buy back all €280m of the structured bonds which were overpriced by €5m and sold to the Greek government pension scheme.

THE NATIONAL system of personal pensions savings accounts will be a trust-based occupational scheme run by trustees, the department for work and pensions says.

THE COST of buying out pension liabilities has reduced significantly over the last 18 months, Paternoster claims.

UK - Communication will be the key to the success of the new personal accounts, said John Hutton MP, during the NAPF annual conference in Manchester.