Europe

UK - Based on aggregate turnover statistics, a total volume of E241bn was traded on the German stock exchanges in August, about 27% less than in the previous month (July 2002: E328bn).

EUROPE - Widely differing attitudes to pensions among EU member states make the chances for an EU-wide strategy unfeasible, Deloitte & Touche claims.

UK - Employer contributions to the £120m Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries' Pension and Life Assurance Scheme have increased in a bid to reduce its deficit.

UK - London Underground will consider improving tube workers' pensions in bid to end the row which has triggered a spate of one-day strikes.

UK - Retail giant Littlewoods has assured staff the £834m final salary scheme is safe following the firm's takeover by the Barclay brothers.

UK - Building materials distributor Wolseley has dismissed analysts' fears about the health of its £314m pension scheme - even though it is only 70% funded.

UK - An independent pensions authority to oversee policy making for both state and private pensions is the only way to ease the pensions crisis, Buck Consultants claims.

UK - Staff put occupational pensions at the top of their "wish list" of employee benefits, a survey by Virgin Money shows.

UK - UBS Global Asset Management (UBS Global AM) has appointed Guy Walker to its UK pan European equity research team.

BELGIUM - The controversial 3.25% guarantee rate due to be imposed on Belgian second pillar schemes may be reduced to 2% if companies are found to be struggling to honour it.