Europe

UK - An 11th hour bid by pension advisory service OPAS to save the UK final salary scheme at international shipping giant Maersk has failed.

UK - Sirius Financial Systems has teamed up with computer solutions expert Logica in a bid to increase its share of the pensions trustee market.

UK - Standard & Poor's has withdrawn its ratings on Railtrack following the redemption of all bonds and medium-term notes by Network Rail.

UK - Abbey National is to distribute Prudential's with-profits bond for an initial four-year period.

UK - Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook on Standard Life from stable to negative following fears over the firm's financial flexibility.

UK - Pension scheme investment in hedge funds will more than double in the next two years, a new study predicts.

UK - The practical and legal issues of delivering pensions services online are addressed in a new book published by Tolleys.

UK - Pensions legislation needs updating to reflect changes in the labour market over the past 20 years, the Society of Pension Consultants says.

SCOTLAND - A dispute between Scottish Bus Group pensioners and the Treasury over the double taxation of pension fund surplus could lead to a change in the law, unions claim.

UK - Solutions provider Aries Training & Informations Systems and publishers Butterworth Tolley (Tolley) have unveiled a new distribution agreement at this week's Pension Show.