GLOBAL - Tough markets, blurring lines between investment product providers and the continued polarisation of alpha and beta present a significant threat to asset managers, according to research from McKinsey & Company.

DENMARK - Public and media pressure is increasingly forcing Danish pension funds to focus on social and ethical concerns in their investments.

NETHERLANDS - A Bureau Bosch survey has shown that over half the Netherlands' Ä1.1trn (US$1.7trn) in pension fund assets were managed by foreign companies in 2007, with Ä173bn in a fiduciary, multi-manager or overlay capacity.

PRIVATE equity firm YFM Group has increased its share in pensions recruitment firm Darwin Rhodes £1.7m.

UK - The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has been urged to address issues in its conflicts of interest guidance which it has been claimed could push the UK further towards becoming a defined contribution (DC) nation.

SWEDEN - The Ethical Council for Sweden's first to fourth AP funds has named 13 companies it is urging to address environmental or social issues.

CANADA - A softer Canadian dollar prevented local pension funds being harder hit by falling global equity markets, according to RBC Dexia.

THE TI Group Pension Scheme has transferred £250m of assets to Legal & General in a partial buyout of its pensions in payment.

PENSIONERS are spending £23bn on rent every year, Friends Provident research reveals.

CHINA - The two-tier nature of Chinese company boards and the role of majority shareholders in electing independent directors that may be beholden to their electors are two major governance risk factors to minority shareholders invested in Chinese companies,...