Asia

US/JAPAN - Freezing defined benefits plans in the US and Japan and relying solely on a defined contribution plan fails to address risks, according to a working paper published by the Pension Research Council.

INDIA - Nikko Asset Management and Indian financial services group Ambit RSM Private Limited have announced plans to establish a joint asset management venture in India.

INDIA - Pension funds are not yet ready to invest in Indian infrastructure despite the "fantastic" opportunities available, said Sam Mahtani, manager of F&C's emerging markets fund.

EUROPE/ASIA - Nigel Williams, CEO of Europe and Asia ex-Japan at Barclays Global Investors' (BGI), has announced his retirement - effective mid-2007 - after 14 years with the firm.

MALAYSIA - The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) registered net investment income of RM3.5bn (US$963m) over the third quarter of the year, with its equities portfolio posting an 8% increase.

SOUTH KOREA - Discussions to reform the national pension scheme in South Korea are underway in an effort to reduce the incidence of early retirement and ease the pressure on the scheme.

EUROPE/ASIA - Joachim Mies has left Dresdner Kleinwort to take up the position of COO for asset management in EMEA at Credit Suisse.

JAPAN - The average funding ratio for Japanese corporate pension plans has risen 31% in the last three years on the back of an improving economy and a rebound in domestic equity markets.

KYRGYZ - The Asian republic of Kyrgyz will be drawing up a comprehensive reform of its pension system and increasing its pensions by 10% in 2007.

MALAYSIA - Five members of the Employees Provident Fund have been jailed for making fraudulent withdrawals from the fund.