Europe

UK - Some IFAs are foregoing professional indemnity insurance because premiums are too high, the Society of Financial Advisers claims.

UK - Pension schemes faced with an FRS17-led deficit and a depressed stock market should consider a structured overlay strategy to boost equity portfolios.

UK - Pooled pension funds recorded their worst quarter since 1987.

UK - Gartmore has strengthened its UK equity team with the appointment of Ben Wallace as a senior investment manager.

UK - The £1.2bn East Riding of Yorkshire Pension Fund is ending its contract with the Pensions Investment Research Council in a bid to reduce its costs.

UK - Bank workers' union Unifi wants the Royal Bank of Scotland to guarantee the future of its defined benefit scheme.

UK - Eladio Bellas has joined Mercer Human Resource Consulting in London.

UK - The Co-operative Insurance Society plans to become the first institutional investor to publish its entire UK voting record on its website - www.cis.co.uk.

UK - Baring, Houston & Saunders has launched the ING UK Property Income Partnership fund which aims to offer a net yield of over 9.25%in its first year.

UK - London based-Platinum Capital Management has appointed Sebastien Sainsbury to its risk management advisory committee.