Europe

UK - Musical instrument and publishing firm Boosey and Hawkes has increased employer contributions into its pension fund in a bid to cut its deficit.

UK - Commercial property is one of the most stable and secure investments pension funds can make, says Standard Life Investments.

UK - Leading high-street banks are to meet unions over compensating female employees who cashed in pensions as "marriage gratuities".

WALES - The £730m Greater Gwent Pension Fund is considering its first ever move to private equity and hedge funds in an effort to boost returns.

UK - The £2bn Smiths Group pension scheme has seen its £298m surplus turn into a £28m deficit over the last year.

UK - International law firm Allen & Overy has appointed pensions specialist Maria Stimpson to the partnership.

UK - The future survival of beleaguered support services company WS Atkins is threatened by its growing pension deficit, City analysts claim.

EUROPE - The European Asset Management Association and the Fédération des Fonds et Sociétés d'Investissement are considering joining forces to lobby more effectively.

UK/EU - A bitter row over pension rights for agency workers has flared between employers and trade unions.

UK - The Universities Superannuation Fund has urged the government to create a qualitative way of measuring board composition and performance.