EUROPE - First State Investments has announced the launch of the First State European Diversified Infrastructure Fund.

CANADA - Three more Canadian pension funds may have put themselves in line for slice of the Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) pie, but have sidestepped the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP) bid in favour of private equity firms.

JAPAN - The Japanese government has been engaged in debate over a state investment fund to manage its US$909bn in FX reserves and improve long term returns.

GLOBAL - Watson Wyatt's global practice director, Roger Urwin, has stressed the value played by governance in effective pension management.

FIRST State Investments is to launch an infrastructure fund for institutional investors.

UK & NETHERLANDS - The asset management divisions of ABN AMRO and Barclays will not be merged, said a spokesman after the terms of the merger of the British and Dutch banking giants were announced.

ACTUARIAL and pensions specialist Wolanski Checkley Fisher has moved to new offices in the City.

Tories to pursue pensions lifeboat; Call for ‘safe harbour' fund rules; SEI to offer ‘middle way' to run DC funds; First State launch

INDIVIDUAL members of the proposed personal accounts pension scheme should be given the choice to adopt their own shareholder voting policy, according to Pensions & Investment Research Consultants.

UK - FSA approval and a US$500m mandate have been awarded to SilverStreet Capital, the fund of hedge fund management group founded by two former ABN AMRO alternatives managers.