Europe

UK - One shareholder meeting is of significance in the week beginning April 8, according to corporate governance specialists Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS).

UK - The £22bn Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is breaking the current trend among many pension funds by moving further into equities.

UK - Schroders has announced the appointment of Steven Wood as global head of trading.

EUROPE - Zurich, the troubled financial services group, is pulling out of four East European markets and is selling the businesses to Generali Group.

UK - HSBC's current and former part-time employees can now claim millions in backdated benefits, following the bank's decision to retroactively admit them into its occupational pension scheme.

UK - Increased annuity rates can be achieved by bolstering annuities' property component, according to leading experts.

UK - Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) has launched what it claims is the biggest ever closed property fund this year - the UK Balanced Property Trust.

UK - Global Risk Management Services has taken on seven new analysts to meet growing fund manager demand for outsourced SRI research.

UK - Pension funds are being urged to press for reforms over the way auditors are appointed.

FINLAND - The Bank of Finland (BoF) is looking for fund managers to run up to EUR250m in mandates for its staff pension fund.