Europe

SCOTLAND - The £6bn Strathclyde Pension Funds are to tender for a global custodian by August at the latest.

UK/GERMANY - Dresdner RCM Global Investors has entered into a distribution agreement with Germany's Allianz Hedge Fund Partners (AllianzHFP) to offer hedge fund of funds to UK institutional investors.

UK - JPMorgan Treasury Services is now offering clients real time access to transaction and event information by email.

UK/IRELAND - Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has launched two actively managed corporate bond funds - the Ascent UK All Stocks Corporate Bond Fund and Ascent UK Long Corporate Bond Fund.

UK - The European Asset Management Association (EAMA) is calling for a common regulatory approach on transaction execution.

UK - The Confederation of British Insurers (CBI) has warned that compulsory employer contributions are likely to accelerate the closure of final salary pension schemes.

UK - Private equity house Gresham is launching a website at www.gresham.vc after getting permission to use "dot vc" from the Island of St Vincent.

UK - Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM) has strengthened its UK equity team with wo new appointments bringing the total numberto eight.

UK- Pension scheme for the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority is seeking a fund administrator.

UK - Small to medium-sized pension schemes are increasingly looking to hive off their pension liabilities to insurance companies.