US - Former SEC chairman Harvey Pitt and LocateStock founder John Tabacco are backing the launch of LendEX, a new securities lending platform that promises to generate higher revenues for pension funds than traditional custodial programmes.

INCLUDING - RUSSIA - UBS appoints Russia CEO; EUROPE - Nedergaard quits Northern Trust; EUROPE - ETF Securities expands team; ASIA - Head of EAFE at Threadneedle; UK - Pension funds help meet new reporting standards; AUSTRALIA - ASIC prosecutes fake...

CANADA - Canadian pension funds have increased their exposure to foreign assets, but left themselves open to currency risks, a report from Greenwich Associates has revealed.

GLOBAL - A third of pension funds and investors plan to have over 10% of their portfolios invested in commodities over the next three years, according to a survey by Barclays Capital.

UK - Almost three quarters (71%) of pension funds in the UK do not actively pursue environmental issues, but 94% believe they could do more, according to research from eShare.

THE current raft of pension reforms will not solve the burgeoning "pensioner crisis" in the UK, an expert warns.

Pension schemes wipe out gains; Friends Provident ready to talk takeovers; Whitehall crackdown on bloggers and social networks after Civil Serf

IRELAND - The Pensions Board has brought a High Court case against construction firm Limestone Construction, alleging it failed to pay pension contributions.

THE multi-employer Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Pension Scheme has unveiled a raft of changes to protect its defined benefit arrangements.

CANADA - The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has joined a consortium which plans to bid for the chance to start a new wireless company.