Europe

UK - Employers cannot avoid management issues on pensions simply by choosing a stakeholder or group personal pension plan, Watson Wyatt warns.

UK - The £499m Highland Council Pension Fund is considering extending its commission recapture programme to cover all its fund managers.

UK - Hedge funds have been urged to develop new investment strategies and update their technology to accommodate a flood of institutional investment.

UK - Almost half the UK's adults have no company or private pension and will rely on state benefits in retirement, a study by Accenture HR Services shows.

UK - Japan's economic recovery will be sustained over the long-term despite the threat of further market volatility, leading fund managers predict.

UK - Consultants are urging the government to exclude money purchase schemes from any prescription arising out of the Myners Report.

UK - Workers at TransBus International - part of beleaguered bus manufacturer Mayflower - are lobbying government over fears they will miss out on pension compensation.

UK - Worldwide investor confidence in equities is falling, figures from State Street Associates show.

UK - State Street Corporation has hired Charles Cohen to its pension fund sales team in the UK.

UK - Stakeholder take up could rise by 30% if employers were allowed to promote schemes to their staff, B&CE Benefit Schemes claims.