Europe

UK - Last ditch talks to avert a court battle between Big Food Group and staff over closure of the firm's defined benefit scheme have broken down.

UK - Money purchase schemes have lost 50% of their value over the past three years, research by Lane Clark & Peacock shows.

UK - Sydney Packett (Life & Pensions Limited) has appointed Bill Hart as pensions director and Jonathan Booth as an associate director.

UK - Jupiter Asset Management is disclosing its record of engagement with companies in an effort to boost socially responsible investment (SRI).

UK/EUROPE - The SVM Highlander Fund closed to new investors as of July 1 with total assets of e445m (£286m).

UK - The Government is to launch yet another review into the state of the UK pensions industry, hot on the heels of the Sandler and Pickering reports.

UK - The Wesleyan Assurance Society has announced a free asset ratio more than 30% higher than any of the top 20 life assurers.

UK/EUROPE - The SVM Highlander Fund closed to new investors as of July 1 with total assets of e445m (£286m).

UK - Employees have more trust in their employer providing them reputable financial products and services than other outside companies, research by Royal & SunAlliance reveals.

UK - Accounting giant Ernst & Young is urging the government to scrap its tax on pension funds' share dividends.