DENMARK — Industriens Pensionsforsikring has awarded a DKR372m (€50m) Japan Small Cap equities mandate to State Street Global Advisors (SSgA).

VENEZUELA - The threat to markets posed by Hugo Chavez's announcement of plans to nationalise CANTV and other key companies is not as significant as media reports would suggest, say emerging markets experts.

EUROPE - Credit Suisse had appointed David Livingstone MD and head of European Mergers & Acquisitions.

US - Superior court judge Jeffrey Barton has scheduled oral argument on the city attorney's objections to the judge's proposed statement of decision in the pension case.

ITALY - The Italian pensions market needs a boost in competition and transparency to make up for the excess regulation, said Watson Wyatt.

BA plans £4bn new fleet as unions dispute pension deal; Liability cap to be set on civil service pensions; Government department snubs Royal Mail over £12m postal contract

LEGAL & General Investment Management has appointed Ian King as head of active European equities.

PLANNED industrial action by 4000 London bus drivers over changes to their final-salary pension scheme has been blocked by a High Court injunction.

PAKISTAN - The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has launched a Voluntary Pension System (VPS) and issued certificates of registration that allow four asset management companies to act as pension fund managers.

BRITISH AIRWAYS has released details of its recovery plan thrashed out with unions to close the £2.1bn deficit in its largest staff pension scheme, the New Airways Pensions Scheme.