Europe

UK - Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's pre-budget report was received with scepticism by industry watchers this week.

UK - Pensions schemes may be duped into adopting unnecessary data protection measures, lawyers warn.

UK - Unison has slammed plans to raise the retirement age of public service workers from 60 to 65.

UK/SE. ASIA - UK fund managers have outperformed their peers in south-east Asia over the last five years, figures from ratings agency Standard & Poor's show.

UK - Logistics company Exel has confirmed it will close its £1.6bn final salary pension scheme to new members from April.

UK - The CB Hillier Parker All Property Average Yield survey was static at 7.2% over the third quarter.

UK - The £592m Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund has blamed its UK and Japanese equity managers for its underperformance.

UK - BAe Systems' seven final salary schemes will be either closed to new members or modified following a review due next month.

UK - Baillie Gifford is to let pension funds invest segregated mandates in two of its UK pooled bond funds.

UK - The Accounting Standards Board has deferred the mandatory requirement for full adoption of FRS17 until January 1, 2005.