Market volatility will lead to increased take-up of transition management services, Credit Suisse says.

Opponents to the proposed merger between the Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries have formed an actuarial defence group to fight the plans.

UK - The government has frozen the general levy and the Pension Protection Fund's administration levy for 2009/10 in a bid to ease pressures on pension schemes.

US - New York City will raid up to US$1.1bn from its retiree healthcare fund to cover a pension plan funding gap over the next couple of years.

GLOBAL - Pension schemes will need to cope with a profits recession, as well as a much more volatile inflation cycle in the near future, Standard Life says.

NEW ZEALAND - All surplus revenue from the premiums of retail and wholesale finance guarantee schemes will be invested in the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, finance minister Michael Cullen pledged today.

GLOBAL - Watson Wyatt Worldwide saw revenues in its investment consulting group rise by 5% between June and September as demand for advice on investment strategy increased.

GLOBAL - The global exchange traded fund (ETF) industry is set to explode, with assets projected to reach US$1trn next year and then double in 2010, data from Barclays Global Investors (BGI) reveals.

NETHERLANDS - Aegon Group reported a net loss of €329m (US$420.3m) for the third quarter, with underlying earnings before tax down by 28%.

US - Cautious comment from the asset management community has followed yesterday's sweeping victory by democratic candidate Barack Obama in this year's US presidential elections.