US - There has been a sharp decline in the health of US pension funds in the final quarter of 2007, according to UBS Global Asset Management.

Schemes can still get good returns from pooled property vehicles but they must choose high-quality assets with secure returns, Prudential M&G says.

MORE than 60pc of firms offering open final salary schemes expect to keep them open past the introduction of personal accounts, research suggests.

US - The San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA) has earned the highest issuer credit rating of AAA from Standard & Poor's (S&P).

COWEN Asset Management has launched its range of actively managed funds targeted at the institutional pension and multi manager markets.

SWITZERLAND - Swiss trade union leaders have called for an urgent review of the country's pension arrangements, with specific mention of early retirement.

The department for work and pensions is "arrogantly milking" pension schemes due to its failure to keep regulatory costs under control, Gissings says.

Rush to close final salary pensions has eased; BAA unions call off all strikes; State Street subprime woes force asset management chief to quit; Fresh interpretation of rules set to widen pension deficits

US - A set of recommendations to tackle California's pension shortfall is to be made public on Monday.

FINLAND - After an eleventh hour deal, a strike has been avoided by the Finnish National Opera (FNO) over a pay and pensions row.