US - The Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) has hailed its decision to expand its presence into alternative investments, as the fund posted a 13.6% return for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006.

INSTITUTIONAL funds under management at Schroders dropped by £3bn in the first six months of 2006, latest company figures reveal.

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) grew by $600m for the quarter ending June 30, 2006, despite an investment rate return of -2.6% or $2.5bn.

EXCEPTIONAL growth in corporate and personal pensions underpinned record first-half sales for Aegon UK in 2006.

HEWITT Associates has appointed Russell Fradin to succeed Dale Gifford as its chairman and chief executive.

A mining union has dropped its claim for early retirement benefits for former British Coal workers just days before a High Court hearing.

GLOBAL - Russell Fradin will take over as chairman and CEO of Hewitt Associates, with veteran Dale Gifford retiring after 16 years in the role.

INVESTMENT bank Dresdner Kleinwort has launched two new funds that use volatility as an asset class.

Uk - Schroders' assets under management (AuM) suffered a £6bn drop in the second quarter of 2006 due to volatile market conditions.

STANDARD LIFE's claims that rival Axa is marketing a pension product as a way of avoiding inheritable tax have been dismissed as "absolute nonsense".