The Financial Reporting Council has published a document to help audit committeees meet the challenges thrown up by the current financial crisis when preparing end of year corporate reports.

THE Society of Pensions Consultants has written to the three political parties urging them to debate how best to support pensions in the economic downturn.

IRELAND - Managed funds have delivered a negative return of -4% in November, figures released by Hewitt Associates reveal.

THE Marathon Club has issued a paper to update its practical guidance for trustees when reviewing the performance of investment managers and advisers.

GLOBAL - Outflows from Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS) shot up in the third quarter of 2008 to €92bn (US$116bn), latest figures show.

THE department for work and pensions has postponed the start date for the lower 2.5pc per annum cap on revaluation requirements for deferred benefits.

DENMARK - Danish giant pension fund ATP has agreed with Local Government Denmark (LGDK) to acquire all its shares in KMD, in a co-investment deal of DKK2bn (US$340m) on a debt-free basis with private equity fund EQT.

US - Californian network of hospitals and healthcare providers Sutter Health is set to invest up to $500m to fully fund its retirement plan.

US - Workers in the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) union have signed contracts with Boeing after reaching an agreement over pensions.

AUSTRALIA - Switching to conservative investment options or deposit products can result in short-term losses and taxation consequences, minister for superannuation Nick Sherry says.