Europe

UK - Increasing the state pension age would help private provision keep up with increasing longevity, the Pensions Policy Institute claims.

UK - Trade unionists will go ahead with plans to sue the government over compensation for Allied Steel & Wire scheme members.

UK - The Liberal Democrats want the state pension to be increased from £79.60 to £105 a week to end means-testing of benefits.

UK - The Diageo Pension Scheme has made its first move into bonds in a bid to reduce fund volatility.

UK - Pension funds returned an unspectacular 1.1% for the second quarter, figures from performance measurement specialist the WM Company show.

DENMARK - The e11bn Pensionskassernes Administration (PKA) has hired State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), to manage a US$100 million active Japanese equity mandate.

UK - Oil giant Shell is facing mounting criticism from investors over rewards for former executives and pressure from Nigeria for compensation for pollution.

UK - Owners of two national newspapers are injecting £6m into the pension scheme of the printing firm they jointly own.

UK - Montagu Private Equity has acquired electronics retailer Maplin Electronics for £244m from its majority shareholder Graphite Capital and its management team.

UK - The Royal Bank of Scotland has expanded its UK and European Insurance and Pensions Group with two new appointments.