Europe

UK - The Blagden Pension Scheme saga - which was finally settled after a compromise deal was reached - will not set a precedent over surplus cash entitlements.

UK - JPMorgan Investor Services was presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2001 at its global processing offices in Bournemouth, England.

UK - The £1.4bn pension fund for Leicestershire County Council may consider a move into hedge funds as early as next year.

UK - Baring Asset Management has taken another blow with the loss of two of it directors.

UK - Solus Investment Partners, the institutional investment management arm of Brown Shipley, is to offer multi-manager service through intermediaries seeking a managed portfolio of collective investments for their clients.

UK - Trustees of the Marconi Pension Scheme have called for an interim review of the fund.

UK - The value of UK pension funds has continued to plunge and could lead to a decline in equity investment and an increase in bonds, WM Company claims.

UK - Swiss fund manager Pictet & Cie has hired Morley Fund Management's European equities chief, Jeffrey Currington.

UK - Axa Investment Managers has enhanced its equity research team with the addition of Vincent Houteville and Katia Levy-Thevenon as analysts to cover the financials sector.

FINLAND - Evli Bank is to cut its staff compliment by 50. Since the end of 2000, Evli Group turnover has fallen by 47% and profit has declined by 82%.