Norway

NORWAY - The Norway Government Pension Fund - Global has reported four consecutive months of losses, as the fund's value fell to US$387bn in March.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund - Global is to make real estate a separate asset class and expand its benchmark portfolio to include more emerging markets, finance minister Kristin Halvorsen has revealed.

NORWAY - Norway's Government Pension Fund - Global has restructured its equity and fixed income units, following poor performance in 2007.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund - Global only returned 4.3% in 2007, bringing its market value to NOK2019bn (US$390bn).

NORWAY - The Ministry of Finance has appointed Partners Group as real estate consultants in preparation for the national pension fund's possible investment in the asset class.

NORWAY - The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has defended its "negative" screening techniques for its ethical considerations, claiming the Government Pension Fund - Global is too big to screen "positively".

NORWAY - The Governmental Pension Fund - Global has been urged to evaluate its ethical guidelines by environmental and solidarity NGO, the Future in Our Hands (FIVH).

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund - Global has pledged its continued devotion to ethical investing, in a speech given by Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) governor Svein Gjedrem.

NORWAY - Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) has appointed Yngve Slyngstad to succeed Knut N Kjær as its executive director.

NORWAY - The impact of market turmoil on Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Global returns in Q3 has been offset by rising bond prices.