Europe

UK - PricewaterhouseCoopers is hosting a breakfast seminar on the implications of the new pensions regulator.

UK - Companies operating employee car ownership plans have been assured they will not be affected by a crackdown on tax avoidance.

UK - The Medical Protection Society has appointed State Street Global Advisors to run a £300m bond portfolio and a £160m enhanced equity portfolio.

UK - Almost half of defined contribution pension schemes in the United Kingdom fail to provide income protection for employees who retire early due to ill health, a new survey has revealed.

UK - Older workers should not be forced to work until 70 despite the value they add to companies, new research shows.

PORTUGAL - Portuguese pension funds achieved a median return of 0.2% during the second quarter of 2004 with the best-performing portfolios being Euro equities and property.

UK - European Commission threats to prosecute Britain over tax bias against foreign pension funds have been attacked by law firm Sacker & Partners.

UK - Union trustees are being "shunned" by local authority pension schemes, Unison claims.

UK - Rickman Tooze Financial Planners has acquired part of the business and assets of Rickman Tooze Independent Financial Advisors.

UK - The London Pensions Fund Authority Pension Fund saw the value of its assets rise by around £300m between March and December last year.