Europe

EUROPE - Exchange traded funds tracking commodities and hedge fund indices are the best placed to receive new inflows this year, a survey by db x-trackers revealed.

FRANCE - President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that negotiations on pension reform will start in April in a bid to rein in France's ballooning pension deficit.

UK/NORWAY - Norwegian fund manager Skagen is setting up an operation in the UK.

FRANCE - Investment returns at the Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites (FRR) are up 15% for 2009 on the back of the strong rebound in the equity markets.

SPAIN - The two major Spanish trade unions are organising over 100 public protests against the government's plan to raise the retirement age by two years.

UK - Most schemes are unsure if target date funds are suitable for the UK pensions market, research by Clear Path Analysis showed.

UK - Robin Ellison talks to Jenna Towler about his aspirations for the country's pension and taxation systems, his plan to decriminalise drugs and the virtues of a virtual election campaign

UK - British Telecom has agreed a 17-year recovery plan with its trustees in an attempt to tackle a £9bn (US$14.1bn) deficit.

EUROPE - Four senior conservative members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are set to launch a legal fight against European Parliament proposals to tackle a £106m (US$165.6m) deficit in its pension fund.

UK - Financial services secretary Lord Myners has accused excessive bonuses of ruining British pension funds.