JAPAN/CHINA - Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) announced its intention to invest new money worth JPY11.8trn (US$100m) at the start of the new financial year.

A QUARTER of small and medium-sized businesses do not review the investment performance of staff pensions, a survey says.

SCHEME sponsors are using contingent assets as a way of buying influence over their pension funds' investment strategy, lawyers claim.

IRELAND - The weighting that Irish pension funds give alternative assets has tripled in the last year, according to a survey by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF).

UK - New Star Asset Management will list on London Stock Exchange (LSE) in June according to its year end results.

SCHEME managers have slammed government proposals for an independent Myners compliance review.

US - The US$7.7bn San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA) has filed a law suit against Amaranth Advisors claiming securities fraud after the hedge fund's collapse wiped out millions of its investment.

£12.5m pot for Aviva boss despite failures; Troubled Equitable enjoys turnaround; Kingfisher stresses signs of hope at B&Q; Trinity's Bailey gets £1.47m

UK - Independent research and corporate governance and corporate social responsibility consultancy Pensions Investments Research Consultancy (PIRC) has joined the Enhanced Analytics Initiative (EAI).

JAPAN/CHINA - Asian pension funds started to look to the future with China tightening fund management regulations and Japan announcing major new investment.