Investment

MSCI Barra has launched a global family of Islamic indices, designed to reflect Sharia investment principles.

EUROPE - Gilles Glicenstein, head of BNP Paribas Asset Management, has highlighted the growing trend of clients becoming competitors in the pension and savings industry.

SEI has launched a "master trust" defined contribution pension scheme for UK employers.

THE MARATHON Club has published guidance for trustees and their advisers on the implementation of a long-term investment approach.

ASSETS under management at JPMorgan Asset Management grew 21pc during the first quarter of 2007 to more than $1trn (£506bn), latest company figures reveal.

THE ALTERNATIVE Investment Management Association has produced a set of due diligence questionnaires for schemes investing in hedge funds.

RUSSELL Investment Group has launched a fund of hedge funds for institutional investors.

STANDARD Life Investments' smaller companies fund has broken through the £300m mark of assets under management.

New investment tools

SCHEMES investing in French property enjoyed better returns in 2006 than those focusing solely on the UK, new figures reveal.