AUSTRALIA - ASFA has proposed several measures to "facilitate" increased contributions to superannuation in its pre-Budget submission, released today.

PENSION fund money will be the most significant factor affecting UK bond yields during the next five to 10 years, trustees and fund managers say.

BAA switches to liability led pension model; As pension rules bite, pressure mounts on final salary schemes; Tough pension realities make Myners ‘look less relevant; Strain of protecting pensions increases

UK - New joint venture PensionsRisk is looking to buy-out firms such as Paternoster to underwrite its insurance-based approach to managing DB pensions risk as it targets schemes with liabilities upwards of £100m.

CANADA - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has branded the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) criticism of public pensions as a "mean-spirited and economically illiterate attack on the public sector".

PENSIONSRISK has launched a product to provide firms with a insurance based alternative to bulk annuity buy-out at a cost of up to 90pc less.

SCHRODERS has hired New Star Asset Management's Ian Lance to boost its UK equities team.

UK - The Accounting Standards Board (ASB) has published disclosure guidelines aimed at promoting greater transparency in financial reporting for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes.

UK - Railways Pension Trustee Company CEO Chris Hitchen has been named the new NAPF chairman, replacing Robin Ellison who will step down in May.

AUSTRALIA - INVESCO's parent company AMVESCAP has appointed Mark Armour as senior managing director and head of its worldwide institutional business.