LIFE AND PENSIONS new business sales totalled £3.8bn in the third quarter, latest figures from the Association of British Insurers show.

UK - Doubt has been cast over whether a reduction in regulation would have any effect in discouraging employers from "levelling down" contributions under the NPSS.

Britain faces pensions battle of the ages; Fidelity speculates over ITV; Osmond targets funds with £905m Pearl refinancing

THE GOVERNMENT has published proposals for the new-look Local Government Pension Scheme to take effect from April 1 2008.

JUPITER Asset Management is mulling the launch of a new pension product ahead of tentative government plans to free up the market to new players, PP has learned.

AUSTRALIA - Aberdeen Asset Managers has won a A$110m fixed income mandate with multi-manager Intech, recently acquired by superannuation provider Skandia.

CANADA - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has upped its infrastructure investment through the US$2.4bn acquisition of four marine container terminals in North America.

ARGONAUT - the joint venture investment boutique between Resolution Asset Management, Barry Norris and Oliver Russ - has announced that it has raised £500m in 2006.

NETHERLANDS - The ministry of social welfare and employment, which has pensions as one portfolio, has refused to be drawn on whether minister Aart Jan de Geus would like to keep role and see out the implementation of the FTK on the back of the elections...

ITALY - The €143m Fondogommaplastica has issued a tender for the the management of the sector of the fund destined for workers' final indemnity payments.