Myners calls on shareholders to challenge reward cultures; Madoff agrees not to contest Ponzi civil charges; Bullion sales hit record; Brown under pressure to scrap part sale of Royal Mail

UK - Pension funds have huge and unrealised potential to influence the corporate governance of the companies they invest in, Hermes Equity Ownership Services chief executive Colin Melvin claims.

The aggregate funding position of the 7800 defined benefit funds monitored by the Pension Protection Fund improved to a deficit of £190.6bn in January.

Annuity rates fell across the board this month, however, most providers increased rates on retail price index-linked products, Alexander Forbes says.

Hotel group Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin has seen employee benefit uptake increase 60% since online information videos were launched in English and Polish.

NUFFIELD HEALTH has appointed Mercer as its corporate adviser on pension liabilities.

GLOBAL - Barclays Global Investors profit before tax decreased 19% in 2008, to £595m (US$888m) from £734m posted in 2007.

GLOBAL - BNY Mellon Asset Management has launched two investment boutiques - one focused on the management of domestic Australian equities, the other on emerging markets equities and global fixed income.

UK - Bulk annuity business nearly tripled to £8.2bn (US$12.3bn) in 2008, latest research from Aon Consulting reveals.

BNY Mellon Asset Management has launched two investment boutiques - one focused on the management of domestic Australian equities, the other on emerging markets equities and global fixed income.