FINLAND - The State Pensions Fund (VER) posted a return of 0% for the first half of 2006, with assets rising just e100m from year-end 2005.

UK - The Northern Electric Group Pension Scheme has dropped Mercer Investment Consulting and brought Watson Wyatt on board as its adviser.

PENSION schemes should change the way they deal with the payment of death benefits when a member dies in service, the pensions ombudsman claims.

UK - ETF Securities is to launch 29 separate ETCs in the UK within the next few weeks, allowing access to a chocolate box of previously inaccessible commodities.

MORE than 1700 people have signed Saga's petition calling for the restoration of scheme wind-up victims' pensions.

HEWITT Associates plan to hold a teleconference to provide companies with "definitive" answers to new forthcoming age discrimination legislation.

SCHEMES are being urged to make their reports and accounts more interesting and understandable for members.

Group SIPPs proving popular because investors are fully aware of the risks

THE VOUCHER Association - the trade body for the corporate incentive and consumer gift voucher market - is changing its name to The VA.

IRELAND - Airline Aer Lingus has bowed to continued pressure from employees and unions and agreed to make a one-off payment into its pension fund ahead of its new IPO.