MALTA - The hotly-debated pensions reform has been allowed to fall from public view and the growing silence is breeding uncertainty among the people, said Green Party chairman Harry Vassallo.

CANADA - The C$96bn (US$84bn) Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) has completed its purchase of the first three of four marine container terminals in North America from Orient Overseas (International) Limited of Hong Kong.

ASSETS under management at emerging markets specialist Ashmore Group rose 33pc during the final six months of 2006, latest company figures reveal.

REGULATORS are failing to give proper priority to risks faced by defined contribution scheme members, Aegon Scottish Equitable says.

PATERNOSTER has hired former Prudential business development of annuities director David Still.

US - Continental Airlines announced yesterday it would pump US$71m into its pension plans, bringing the company's total contributions since 2002 to $1.2bn.

EUROPE - Kas Bank is planning to open a regional office in Germany in an effort to be closer to its German clients.

UK - Corporate pension schemes and the PPF face an uncertain future as the UK government waits for an ECJ ruling that may force the PPF to pay full benefits to DB scheme members.

GLOBAL - Replication could "turn the hedge fund industry on its head" and pension fund demand for such strategies is on the rise, Partners Group has claimed.

UK - The Hampshire County Council pension fund has appointed Northern Trust as its first global custodian.