CANADA - The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has revealed a decline of C$39.8bn in the value of its assets in 2008.

US - State and local government pension plans have a total economic impact of more than US$358bn, a report by the National Institute on Retirement Security reveals.

UK/NETHERLANDS â€" A group of pension funds has told pharmaceutical firms they need more information about the industry’s emerging market strategies.

Swiss Re is shutting down its variable annuities and pensions business in a bid to scale back its retirement-related activities.

Combined pension fund deficits on the balance sheets of the UK's top 100 companies are estimated to have hit £70bn, Towers Perrin says.

UK - Pension funds cannot use equities as inflation hedging assets in a deflationary environment such as the one currently being experienced, investment bankers say.

Complying with auto-enrolment regulations will cost businesses £3bn and force them to make significant scheme design changes, consultants warn.

US - Workers must contribute more to their 401(k)s or stay employed longer in order to make up for the damage caused to retirement funds during 2008, Hewitt has warned.

IRELAND- The European Central Bank has told Irish regulators that central bank and Financial Services Authority staff cannot be subject to the proposed pension levy.

US- CalSTRS staff could shift some US$8bn in securities, mostly from equities and into higher returning debt instruments, as it moves to make opportunistic investments to boost alpha.