Europe

UK - Life assurer Chesnara has selected Marlborough Stirling to undertake extensive technology and process re-engineering under a proposed long-term outsourcing contract.

UK - Work and pensions secretary Andrew Smith has launched a new information pack to help employers provide advice to staff.

UK - Close Property Investment is launching a new commercial property development fund.

UK - Self-invested personal pension guru John Moret - known in the industry as "Mr SIPP" - has joined Suffolk Life as sales and marketing director.

UK - Royal London has completed its review of support functions following its decision to close its direct sales team.

UK - Trustees must adopt a more active investment strategy to counter falling equity returns, Schroder Investment Management says.

UK - Employers are making increased use of occupational health professionals to curb long-term absence problems.

UK - More than a third of UK companies feel that the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) would have a negative impact on their decision to provide defined benefit pension schemes in future, according to a new survey.

UK - Scottish Widows Investment Partnership has dismissed fears that a rise in inflation rates will have a huge impact on institutional investors.

UK - Man Investments has raised a combined total of $705m (£389.8m) for its Man Global Strategies Diversified Series 2 and Close Man hedge funds.