FIDELITY is mulling the launch of a diversified growth fund to exploit scheme demand for a wider range of assets, PP has learned.

UK PENSION schemes saw average investment returns of 10pc during 2006, latest figures from WM Performance Services reveal.

US - The New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS) has called on Home Depot, Blockbuster, and Par Pharmaceutical Companies to adopt a policy that would allow stockholders to ratify the compensation of senior executives.

NETHERLANDS - Watson Wyatt is to buy its long term partner in the Netherlands, Watson Wyatt Brans & Co. The two have worked in partnership since 1999, when the Netherlands office of Watson Wyatt merged with Dutch firm Brans & Co.

SCHEMES are likely to boost their allocations to emerging markets in 2007, Focus Capital says.

US - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has established an advisory committee to help identify urgent accounting and financial reporting issues.

UK - Pension scheme deficits in the FTSE 350 companies have dropped by 29%, from £86bn in 2005 to £61bn in 2006, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

PENSION scheme deficits in the FTSE 350 companies dropped by nearly a third in 2006, according to research by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

ITALY - Italian trade union Cisl has launched a nation-wide education campaign to help workers understand the implications of the pensions reform implemented on 1 January 2007.

Higgs sees scrutiny of private equity; UK equities fizz with FTSE 100 at six-year high; US fund's 15-year winning streak comes to an end; Are the regulators about to tame the takeover tigers?