Europe

UK - Early access to funds in pension schemes could boost retirement income by a third, a Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) report claims.

UK - Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has gone out to consultation on proposals to take account of scheme investment strategies when calculating levies.

UK - Around 30% of UK workers have not saved or contributed enough towards a pension plan due to financial constraints, while those approaching retirement fear for the future, new research shows.

UK - Some 1.5 million pension holders are planning to halt their pension contributions in an effort to stave off the effects of the impending recession, according to new research from AXA.

EUROPE - Kroll has completed a management buyout of its European corporate advisory and business recovery group and rebranded to Zolfo Cooper in Europe.

BELGIUM - Pension funds lost an average of 15.5% over the year up to September, and shifted allocations from equities to bonds, research by Mercer reveals.

UK - The Pensions Regulator has started procurement for IT services providers for its personal accounts responsibilities.

CZECH REPUBLIC - Czech pension funds' profits fell from CZK3.5bn (US$176.4m) to CZK2.2bn (US$110.8m) year-on-year in the January-September period, according to data released by the National Association of Pension Funds (APF).

EUROPE - The European Union proposed to regulate Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and other credit-rating companies, blaming them for ignoring conflicts of interest and risks that helped fuel the financial crisis.

UK - BT's plan to cut 10,000 jobs by March will not affect the agreed changes to its defined benefit pension scheme, the Communication Workers Union says.