Europe

UK - The pensions ombudsman has taken steps to clarify the contractual agreement between members and trustees when a pension is transferred.

SCOTLAND - Martin Currie Investment Management has won a £120m specialist UK equities mandate from the £1.9bn Lothian Pension Fund.

UK - Equal opportunity chiefs have attacked the pensions Green Paper for failing women and not doing enough to challenge inequality in old age.

UK - Balanced pooled pension fund returns fell by nearly 15% in the 11 months to November 2002, a survey by HSBC Actuaries and Consultants reveals.

UK - Several BBC newsreaders are to be allowed to draw their pensions at age 50 following a concession from the Inland Revenue.

UK - Pension fund investments plummeted by 11.3% in 2002, Russell/Mellon CAPS estimates.

UK - Two pensions professionals received awards in the New Year's Honour's List.

EUROPE - The total volume of institutional fixed income trading in Europe and the Middle East has jumped nearly 25% in 2002, to over US$11trn.

UK - Charities are closing their pension schemes in a bid to ease their financial burdens, the Charity Fund Partnership claims.

UK - State Street Corporation has been appointed by the £600m Tate & Lyle Group Pension Scheme to provide global custody and investment accounting services.