FRANCE - The €31.1bn French Pension Reserve Fund (FRR) continued its comeback from the "brutal" mid-year market correction as it increased assets under management by €1bn in Q4.

AUSTRALIA - Crédit Agricole Asset Management will be strengthening its Australia and New Zealand focus by opening an office in Sydney to target the pension fund markets in the both countries.

BOUTIQUE fund manager Cartesian Capital has won a £105m UK equity mandate from Northern Trust Global Investors.

GLOBAL - Buyout funds posted returns above 25% during the last year, as private equity managers in general boasted strong performances in a favourable market, Mercer Investment Consulting has found.

US - Collapsed hedge fund Amaranth has repaid US$48.2m to the San Diego County Employees' Retirement Association (SDCERA), with further payments expected.

Regulator warns of risk in switching pensions; Union seeks talks with Standard Life; The ruling that may change the future for thousands

NEARLY three-quarters of scheme managers believe that government proposals for a system of personal accounts will lead to a levelling down of private workplace pension provision, an exclusive survey by Professional Pensions reveals.

THE BANK Of New York has revamped its online custody services to let schemes view full details about their holdings at the click of a mouse.

UK - New buy-out providers with little or no reserves have almost no ability to absorb any investment or mortality shocks, said L&G bulk purchase annuities sales director David Evans.

UK - The future of the PPF remained uncertain after the European Court of Justice ruled UK legislation did not ensure the protection of pensions was provided for by the Insolvency Directive.