UK - Pension funds are increasingly drawn to using derivatives to hedge risk, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt.

UK - Pension fund buyout firms must win some business soon or risk imploding, according to a senior figure at the newly launched Occupational Pension Trust (OPT).

RAISING Standards of Pensions Administration has launched a general statement of administration standards.

APPOINTING directors with business failures behind them could jeopardise levy savings for companies which pay into the Pension Protection Fund, Aon Consulting warns.

UK - Pension funds have been warned to expect levy notices in the post later this month as the PPF begins its annual round of tariff collection to raise compensation funds for failed schemes.

AON Consulting is to hold a series of seminars focussed on the Pension Protection Fund levy.

INCLUDING: INDIA - Ripe for global pension funds, CANADA - BCE debt rating ‘junk',GERMANY - Commerzbank confirms sell-off

UK - A spokesman for former Marconi division, telent, has claimed former buyout proposals were too expensive, after today's bid by Pension Corporation for the company's shares.

Royal Mail faces strike ballot over pensions; Qataris in Sainsbury pension fund talks; Crisis in the markets hits the Treasury as business taxes slump; MPs call on Northern Rock to scrap £60m dividend payout

US - State Street Corporation has closed its defined benefit (DB) scheme to new members and will instead bolster contributions under the company's 401(k) scheme.