THE EXTENSION of the Financial Assistance Scheme announced in the budget is a "mean spirited" exercise in political spin, Ros Altmann has said.

Netherlands - Cardano has recruited ex-Hewitt senior investment consultant Kerrin Rosenberg to head its push into the UK.

FRESH proposals for cutting scheme red tape have been dubbed "Pickering II", by a leading consultant.

US - Efforts for "terror free" pension investment in the US have stepped up a level with senators beginning negotiations with oil and gas companies which have links to Iran.

THE MINIMUM drawdown rate for alternatively secured pensions (ASPs) is set to be reduced to 55pc, it was announced yesterday.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds has voiced its disappointment at a £4.1bn cut in gilt sales following last week's speech by MP Ed Balls assuring fund managers of the increased issuance of long-dated bonds.

US - California-based Dimensional Fund Advisers, which manages assets for CalPERS and Utah State Retirement systems, has announced that ex-Janus CFO David Martin will join the company in the same position.

FIDELITY International has upgraded its online service for defined contribution pension schemes in a bid to reduce the time involved in scheme administration.

US - The Indiana Teachers' Retirement Fund (TRF) has committed US$50m to a "sidecar" fund to the $105m Indiana Investment Fund 1 (IIF), which was launched in June last year.

CARDANO has appointed Hewitt Associates senior investment consultant Kerrin Rosenberg as its UK chief executive officer to lead a massive expansion of its business.