Widespread implementation of pan-European pension schemes remains a decade away and currently available plans are unsuitable for the majority of companies, delegates heard.

The government has a "golden opportunity" to boost workplace pension saving by enabling automatic enrolment now, the Association of British Insurers says.

Defined benefit pensions continue to be a serious concern and ongoing challenge for private equity firms, Punter Southall says.

EUROPE - Widespread implementation of pan-European pension schemes (PEPs) is up to ten years away, and current plans are unsuitable for the majority of companies to use, industry experts claim.

US - The governor of New Jersey has proposed allowing the state's 566 municipalities to suspend US$540m in public pension contributions to avoid tax increases.

ARGENTINA - Argentina's Senate approved president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's plan to nationalise about US$24bn in private pensions.

US - CalPERS is to complete a review by December to address asset allocation imbalances in its global equities and alternative investments classes.

NORWAY - The NOK38bn (US$5.4bn) Oslo Pensjonforsikring has employed new tactics in order to reduce risk in its investment portfolio, according to MandateWire.

AUSTRALIA - Savers are a step closer to being able to compare superannuation fund performance following the release of a discussion paper by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

UK - The government has a 'golden opportunity' to boost workplace pension saving by enabling automatic enrolment now, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says.