ASHMORE Group has announced its first set of interim results since listing on the London Stock Exchange in October last year - unveiling a pre-tax profit of £60.2m.

LANE Clark & Peacock has been appointed to provide actuarial and investment services to the Panasonic UK defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes.

UK - Hewitt Associates has lost an actuarial and investment services mandate with Panasonic UK pension schemes to Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP).

PRIVATE equity returns are suffering "inevitable" and "prolonged" falls falling as fund sizes increase, a industry insider warns.

MERCHANT Investors has launched a awareness campaign on self-investing protected rights, including adverts and a mail out to more than 11,000 independent financial advisers.

THE FINANCIAL Services Authority has decided to keep the rule known as RU64.

THE GRESHAM Real Estate Fund II managed by Schroder Real Estate Ventures has completed its investment programme 16 months ahead of schedule.

Pension funds snap up Tesco bond offer; FSA retains rule on pensions selling; Private equity debate heats up; Earnings hit at Old Mutual

CANADA - Pressure has increased on the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) staff due to the increased complexity of the Canadian pensions environment.

UK- Aberdeen is to launch a Global-Emerging Markets Smaller Companies Fund, which will focus on firms more likely to be affected by consumers on a micro scale rather than looking at a country's macro economy.