INCLUDING: ITALY - bfinance to open Italian office; AUSTRALIA - SCT gets two new members; US - DC plans feature auto enrolment; UK - Watson Wyatt appointments

PENSION funds are continuing to move assets out of equities and into other investment classes, the National Association of Pension Funds says.

HSBC Actuaries and Consultants has substantially redeveloped its investment monitoring and governance tool for trustees, IMAGE.

ANTHONY HODGES CONSULTING has launched a programme designed to help trustees become more business minded.

THE government has launched two groups to ensure the long-term strength of the UK's asset management and insurance and industries.

GLOBAL - Russell Investments has announced its Australian chief executive will be moved to London to take charge of the firm's international business operations.

US - African stock markets will launch a campaign to attract more investors from the US and Europe to boost liquidity in their markets, said Sunil Benimadhu, chief executive officer of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius.

GLOBAL - The economic downturn is no excuse to delay urgent negotiations over climate change agreements, some of the world's leading investors and pension funds have said.

UK - Britain's pension provision has never been more unaffordable and this generation faces being less well-off in retirement than their parents, the Conservatives warn.

CANADA - Part of the government's CAN$52bn (US$43.7bn) Employment Insurance (EI) surplus should be used to safeguard pensions, the UFCW union has said.