Europe

UK - Rathbone Greenbank Investments has launched a socially responsible investment advisory service for pension schemes.

UK - Schroders has appointed research analysts Naveed Chaudhry and Jean-Pierre du Plessis to its fund of hedge fund business.

EUROPE - European pension funds feel they need to focus on more frequent asset allocation to improve investment returns, a survey by State Street Corporation has found.

EUROPE - The group of pension funds and fund managers undertaking an initiative in which they will allocate 5% of their research budget to socially responsible investment (SRI) issues have laid down the criteria they will use to evaluate broker performance....

UK - Elements of "self delusion" within the actuarial profession have contributed to plummeting scheme solvency levels, a damning report to the Institute of Actuaries claims.

UK - Schemes are "insuring" their bond investments and protecting against future inflation by moving increasingly to index-linked securities, Baring Asset Management claims.

UK - Standard Life Investments is forecasting positive equity returns despite higher oil prices and a mixed business environment.

UK - Changing the age when workers' redundancy rights apply - effectivelythe retirement age - could open a minefield of litigation, experts warn.

UK - Medical supplies firm Smith & Nephew is offering staff health insurance and the chance to purchase extra holidays as part of a new flexible benefits package.

UK - Tax changes in the Finance Act could leave widows facing pension poverty, Standard Life warns.