Europe

UK - The balance of schemes monitored by the Pension Protection Fund improved to a surplus of £46.1bn ($74.3bn) at the end of January, figures from the lifeboat fund reveal.

Sebastian Cheek talks to Tony Broccardo, chief investment officer of the Barclays UK Retirement Fund, about the success of its Oak Pensions Asset Management spin-off

In January, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority officially replaced the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors. Acting secretary general Carlos Montalvo Rebuelta tells Raquel Pichardo-Allison EIOPA's...

UK - Interest rate hedging increased 44% in the last three months of last year, driven by pension schemes rushing to capitalise on attractive market swap levels, a survey suggests.

UK - The National Employment Savings Trust has appointed State Street Global Advisors, UBS Global Asset Management and BlackRock to run five mandates for its default fund.

UK - The BT Pension Scheme shortfall shrank £1.5bn ($2.4bn) in Q4 last year, helped by a £1bn increase in asset values and a £525m deficit payment, according to its quarterly report.

UK - The Pensions Regulator has overhauled its senior management team and their responsibilities to give defined contribution and auto-enrolment greater importance.

DENMARK - Denmark's biggest pension fund ATP probably won't invest in top-rated bonds sold by Europe's rescue fund as it deems the securities to be too risky, said Henrik Gade Jepsen, the fund's chief investment officer.

US/CANADA - UK risk management firm PensionsFirst has launched a new division to provide advanced risk management services to public and private sector pension plans in North America.

GREECE - Greek telecom operator Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) has said it will have to book a €129.8m ($179m) pensions cost charge to its 2010 accounts following an actuarial study by the Greek government.