Europe

UK - Sandler's proposals for creating a suite of simple savings products depends on the government getting the economics right, the ABI claims.

UK - Final salary schemes are still the most popular form of pension provision at Britain's largest firms, a survey by IPN's sister publication Professional Pensions reveals.

UK - The £1.5bn Staffordshire County Council Pension Fund is looking to appoint a fund manager to run a tactical asset allocation mandate valued at £815m.

UK - The £637m Worcestershire County Council's pension fund has revealed the results of a complete overhaul of its fund manager roster.

UK - The value of balanced funds fell dramatically in the three months to the end of October, latest figures from HSBC Actuaries and Consultants show.

UK - Virgin Money is wooing Norwich Union stakeholder pension customers by offering to transfer and set up accounts with as little as £1.

UK - Take-up of stakeholder pensions has stalled and they are failing to make a significant dent in the savings gap, the Association of British Insurers says.

SCOTLAND - The British Airways Pension Investment Fund has bought a £17.7m freehold in one of Edinburgh's largest retail warehouse parks.

UK/NETHERLANDS - Financial services group Aegon has acquired a 60% stake in Newcastle-based IFA Positive Solutions for an undisclosed sum.

UK - Many institutional fund managers are considering withdrawing from CAPS because retail funds are skewing its figures, a fund manager claims.