Europe

UK - A flexible benefits plan which gives employees the chance to develop computer skills through internet access at home has been launched by Kettering Borough Council.

UK - Standard Life Investments has launched a euro denominated money market fund aimed at schemes and other institutional investors.

UK - Conservative work and pensions spokesman David Willetts has urged the government to break the "vicious cycle" of means-tested benefit dependency.

UK - SEI Investments has increased its institutional assets under management by more than 50% in the first half of the year.

UK - Three out of five schemes expect to increase their property weightings over the next few years, research by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows.

UK - Sir Anthony Holland has been appointed as the independent complaints commissioner for the Financial Services Authority.

UK - Equitable Life has received a multi-million pound compensation claim from more than 700 policyholders.

UK - Standard Life Healthcare has launched a new product which aims to cut sickness absence, after trialing it among its own staff for two years.

UK - A government scheme to help people understand how much they will have to live on when they retire has been welcomed by workers and employers.

UK - Mobile systems giant Ericsson is setting up a round-the-clock assistance service for staff.