The Professional Pensions Investment Conference 2009 has had a strong response from pension funds and their advisers with several sessions now approaching capacity.

US - The New York City Teachers' Retirement System (NYCTRS) has become the fourth New York City pension fund to ban the use of placement agents.

Work and pensions secretary James Purnell is the latest cabinet minister to be named in the on-going parliamentary expenses investigation by the Daily Telegraph .

Dairy Crest will slash dividends by 25% to help fund the additional cash contributions to its pension scheme, the company confirms.

Gissings Consultancy Services has launched a no fee consultancy service designed for schemes valued between £10m and £50m.

Proposals by Fujitsu Services to close its final salary scheme to existing members will mark the beginning of another wave of scheme closures, consultants say.

The proposed European Consumer Rights Directive must not be allowed to hamper auto-enrolment into occupational pensions, the Association of British Insurers warns.

Royal Mail must deliver the goods; MPs' expenses: James Purnell and Geoff Hoon avoided tax on home sales; We must wake up to the pensions time bomb; Yell chairman quits over sit Fred's pension

Level annuities returns stabilised in May after several months of falling rates, Alexander Forbes Annuity Bureau says.

US - Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) is suing Lehman Brothers' officers and directors, its investment bankers and its accountants to recoup more than US$100m lost in Lehman's securities.