Europe

UK - OPRA is launching an investigation into a group of Birmingham-based IFAs pressurising financially-strapped firms to wind-up their schemes.

UK - Business in the Environment is to launch its Index of Corporate Social Responsibility in London on March 12.

SCOTLAND - Mercer Human Resource Consulting is holding a discussion on the future of occupational pension provision in Glasgow on February 26.

UK - Isis Asset Management has welcomed FSA plans to clarify the standards expected of research analysts.

UK - Pensioners are missing out on up to £940m by failing to take up income benefits, Age Concern claims.

UK - UK pension fund's trading costs are far higher than those in other countries despite government efforts to cut them, a US performance measurement firm claims.

UK - Administration specialist Capita Hartshead has appointed Richard Hardy as principal pensions technician within its pensions technical team.

UK - Government plans to cap pension pots at £1.4m will boost industry-wide schemes, PMI vice-president Penny Green predicts.

UK - The pensions ombudsman has attacked lawyers for time wasting and causing undue expense in member disputes.

UK - OPRA will not penalise trustees who, acting on the advice of the scheme actuary, delay statements of entitlement.