GLOBAL - A number of pension funds - some 17% - have considered upping their allocation to emerging markets in the wake of the recent credit crunch, found the results of November's Global Pensions 100 Panel.

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A guide for trustees on how to monitor employer covenants has been launched by the Society of Pension Consultants.

Firms must not ignore pension issues in the rush to complete deals before next April's rise in capital gains tax, lawyers warn.

GLOBAL - The predicted downturn in real estate returns has begun to be reflected in pension funds' allocations to the asset class, show the results of the latest Global Pensions 100 Panel.

US - Pennsylvania's state pension system must be moved from defined benefit (DB) to defined contribution (DC) in order to avoid severe financial disaster, Senate Finance Committee chairman Pat Browne has claimed.

UK - A survey of over 100 defined benefit (DB) schemes has shown over half have been closed to new members and a further one in seven are frozen and are not accruing benefits, according to a report by Hewitt Associates.

Standard Life has withdrawn from its merger agreement with Resolution as it believes a revised offer would not create "sufficient value" for its shareholders.

NETHERLANDS - Foreign institutional asset managers continue to hold the majority of assets in the Dutch investment management market, a new report has revealed.

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