Norway

NORWAY - The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) has appointed pension provider Storebrand as the preferred mandatory pension scheme provider for its member companies.

NORWAY - Governor Svein Gjedrem has said the NOK1.4trn Government Pension Fund could more than double in size over the next decade to twice the country's GDP.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund awarded six new fixed income mandates to external managers and overhauled the organisation of its internal asset management for equity investments in 2005.

NORWAY - The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (Kredittilsynet) is working on new regulations concerning investment policy for insurance companies and pension funds with the intention of introducing them at year end.

NORWAY - Garantikassen for Fiskere, the NOK700m (e86.8m) industry wide pension fund for fisherman, has tendered its entire portfolio, comprised of bonds and domestic equities.

NORWAY - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Peter Nielson to its Nordic Institutional Sales team.

NORWAY - A strong Norwegian economy is expected to be a key driver for growth and returns in the property asset class, according to Aberdeen Property Investors' (API) international director Ubbe Strihagen.

NORWAY - BAE Systems and Boeing are among seven companies excluded from the global arm of the NOK1300bn Government Pension Fund by the Ministry of Finance on the grounds that they are involved in the production of nuclear weapons.

NORWAY - The new Government Pension Fund, a rebrand moniker for the dual bodies of the NOK1281.1bn Government Petroleum Fund and the National Insurance Scheme Fund, was unveiled on new years day.

NORWAY - Norway's introduction of mandatory occupational pension schemes may keep interest rates low, experts say.