Europe

UK - London based recruitment agency Principal Search has hired Kim Yates from InterSec Research as a consultant for asset management services.

UK - Val Burdett-Callen has quit Sector Treasury Services after four years to join investment consultancy PSolve.

ICELAND - The massive US$1.3bn (EUR1.3bn) Icelandic Public Employees Pension Fund (LSR) the country's largest, is looking to raise its overseas equities allocation to 40% by 2006, in a move that should lead to a raft of new mandates.

UK - Pension funds selling property investments should include clauses in their contracts allowing them to reclaim stamp duty from buyers, lawyers say.

UK - Actuaries should become more open, develop a better understanding of clients' businesses and make their work more transparent, the Institute of Actuaries' new president says.

UK - Singer & Friedlander Investment Management (SFIM) has appointed Andrew Impey as director and head of UK equities.

UK - Barclays Global Investors' active UK equity fund, Ascent Life UK Advanced Active, has outperformed the FTSE All Share Index by 0.75% in the second quarter.

UK - Fund managers are reporting an upsurge of trustee interest in multi-manager products, particularly at smaller schemes.

UK - Falling standards of administration and communication have sent complaints to the Occupational Pensions Advisory Service soaring to record levels.

UK/EUROPE- Pensions are the most important method of saving for British investors, with 23% of people being involved in some sort of pension scheme.