Norway

NORWAY - Norway's global pension fund, the largest equity investor in Europe, has no plans to buy commodities, according to its operator Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM).

NORWAY - The City of Oslo has proposed lending its municipal pension fund NOK1.24bn (US$184.9m) to shore up its funding level.

NORWAY - The US$381bn Government Pension Fund-Global, a self-proclaimed leader in ethical investments, does not apply best practice in sustainable investments, according to Innovest.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund - Global has excluded Rio Tinto's equities from its portfolio, over concerns on the risk of contributing to "severe environmental damage" allegedly posed by the international mining group.

NORWAY - The market value of the Government Pension Fund-Global increased by NOK46bn (US$8.5bn) during the second quarter of 2008, stabilising at NOK1,992bn (US$367.3bn), despite negative returns.

NORWAY - Norway needs to extend its pension reform to include public sector pensions if it is to address a financing gap in 2060, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned.

NORDICS - The €215bn (US$338.4bn) ABP fund has taken a minority stake in Norwegian shopping centre company Steen & Strøm.

Heather Dale travels to Oslo to see how the country is adjusting to reforms on investment guidelines ushered in recently by the government

NORWAY - The NOK3.4bn (US$0.68bn) Aker Pensjonskasse has been forced to halt its plans for further investment in alternatives following the introduction of the Norwegian pension law earlier this year, according to MandateWire.

NORWAY - Property is becoming an increasing focus for pension funds in Norway as they seek to further diversify their portfolios, following a change to regulations earlier in the year.