US - Hewlett Packard and SureWest Communications have become the latest companies to freeze their defined benefit schemes.

UK - More than one fifth (22%) of companies feel increasing defined benefit pension costs are hurting share price, research by Aon Consulting has found.

UK - Currency overlay could play a significant part in pension fund returns, according to new statistics published by Mellon Analytical Solutions.

SWITZERLAND - The currency and alternative investment manager Millennium Global Investments has opened a new office in Switzerland.

CANADA - The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec achieved net investment returns of C$17.8bn in 2006, but the fund's CEO warned of a dip in returns going forward.

GLOBAL - ETF assets under management are expected to surge from the current US$574bn to over $2trn by 2011, Morgan Stanley has claimed.

THE PENSIONS Action Group has urged all MPs to put more pressure on the government to compensation scheme wind-up victims.

UK campaigners hoping to scrap mandatory retirement ages have a "mountain to climb" following a European ruling on a Spanish age discrimination case, lawyers say.

LLOYDS TSB Group cut the deficit in its pension scheme by more than £1bn in 2006, the banking giant's annual results reveal.

NETHERLANDS/UK- Northern Trust was awarded two custody mandates in the last two days - by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund and Stichting Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Zorgverzekeraars (SBZ), worth €3bn and €2.3bn respectively .