Asia

JAPAN - A high allocation to domestic bonds held back returns at Japan's public pension fund during the last three months of 2009.

INDIA/US - Indian investment bank Religare Enterprises has announced a US$1bn commitment to make "strategic investments" in asset management businesses worldwide and has started by acquiring a stake in a US private equity firm.

GLOBAL - Global pension assets totalled US$29.5trn at year end 2009, up 14% from the previous year, according to a report by the International Financial Services London.

SOUTH KOREA/UK - The US private equity owner of Gatwick airport has confirmed that it will sell a 12% stake to South Korea's state pension fund.

TAIWAN - BNP Paribas Investment Partners will strengthen its asset management presence in Asia with a new joint venture in Taiwan.

JAPAN - Japanese pension funds will decrease their home equity bias in light of weak home-country equity returns, a consultant predicted.

AUSTRALIA/SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's National Pension Service, the nation's biggest investor, bought an office building in Sydney for A$685m (US$626m) to diversify its investments as Australia's economy strengthens.

Peter Jenkins of Nomura Asset Management looks at the long-term potential for gains in Japanese equities

As the year comes to a close, GP is taking a look back at the 10 most read features of 2009.

KOREA - Institutional investors with a combined US$2.5trn in assets under management have written Korea's Ministry of Justice asking it to refrain from introducing anti-takeover measures known as poison pills into its Commercial Code.