Europe

UK - Essex County Council is putting nearly half its £2bn pension fund up for tender, following an asset liability modelling conducted by consultant Watson Wyatt.

UK - Dino Fuschillo has resigned today as head of European equities at SG Asset Management in London to join Edinburgh-based Martin Currie as a director.

SPAIN - Santander Central Hispano has acquired part of Citibank's Spanish fund management operations for an undisclosed amount.

UK - The £13bn Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund has appointed five firms to private equity.

EUROPE - Watson Wyatt is preparing its second European Human Capital Index this spring and is inviting leading organisations in the UK and across the rest of Europe to participate in the study.

UK/EUROPE - Northern Trust Global Investments (Europe) (NTGIE) has appointed Andrew Edgington as director of product management and development.

UK - The Government's latest proposals for pensions reform fail to give people sufficient incentives to save for their retirements or to ensure better deals for those retiring with money purchase pension funds, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants...

UK - Pension providers should be obliged to offer customers access to a market leading guaranteed rate at retirement, says Watson Wyatt in its response to the Inland Revenue consultation paper, Modernising Annuities.

EUROPE - Commerzbank Securities (ComSec) yesterday issued a special market briefing report which considers pension reforms in Europe.

UK/EUROPE - Northern Trust Global Investments (Europe) (NTGIE) has appointed Andrew Edgington as director of product management and development.