Europe

UK - Workers at steel giant Caparo are threatening to strike after the firm closed its final salary scheme and replaced it with stakeholder.

UK - Major UK pensions bodies, including the Pensions Management Institute (PMI), took their first steps this week to establish an industry standard for pension fund administration.

UK - Average salaries for pension scheme managers have soared to consultant levels as firms chase high-quality staff, a recruitment agency survey shows.

UK - Pension schemes are claiming victory in their battle to get the full implementation of accounting standard FRS17 delayed.

UK - Statistics showing annual pension savings at £86bn may have been overstated by as much as £30bn, the government has admitted.

UK - SEI Investments has joined the chorus of industry players to welcome the temporary reprieve over controversial accounting standard FRS17.

UK - Linklaters has appointed Rosalind Knowles and Richard Kandler as consultants to its pensions group.

UK - Pension schemes with MFR shortfalls may be bullied into bypassing OPRA and "into unfavourable wind-up settlements in court, a professional trustee warns.

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting is to house its London operations under one roof by 2004.

UK - Gartmore has hired Geraldine Wright as account director, institutional client services.