Europe

UK - Industry players' opinions is split down the middle as to whether the Financial Services Authority (FSA) should increase regulation on hedge funds, a Close Fund Management survey has revealed.

UK - Master classes on multi-asset class investment are to be held by regular Global Pensions contributor Guy Fraser-Sampson, with the first event happening in London on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

FRANCE - VIGEO, EIRIS and TRUCOST have been selected to carry out the French Pensions Reserve Fund's (Fonds De Reserve Pour Les Retraites/FRR) first extra financial reports.

EUROPE - The EU Commission is taking action against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland over incorrect implementation of the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provisions (IORPs) directive, while legal action against three countries for failure...

LUXEMBOURG - Aberdeen Asset Management has opened an institutional business development and client servicing office in Luxembourg.

FRANCE - Hewitt Associates has appointed Robeco Gestions' Nicolas du Penhoat to lead its investment consultancy operations in France.

UK - Liberal Democrat shadow work and pension secretary David Laws has criticised the new Pensions Bill for not narrowing the gulf between public and private sector pension schemes.

EUROPE/ASIA - Nigel Williams, CEO of Europe and Asia ex-Japan at Barclays Global Investors' (BGI), has announced his retirement - effective mid-2007 - after 14 years with the firm.

ITALY - The Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions for the Aid of Citizens (ATTAC) in Italy has slammed unions for agreeing to bring the pension reform forward.

UK - The "remarkable pace of change" witnessed as corporate pensions schemes switch from DB to DC is set to continue, found the Towers Perrin "UK Corporate Pensions Survey 2006".