Europe

UK - A pensioners' lobby group has criticised unions for failing to campaign for decent state pension provision.

UK - WINTERTHUR Life has reported a 12% growth in its new insured single premium pensions business for the first quarter.

UK - Nearly 50% of fund managers do not enter into soft commission arrangements, research from the Investment Management Association shows.

UK - A leading trade union is demanding government action to promote and protect final salary pension schemes following reports of declining confidence from workers.

UK - Trustees need to lead the way by introducing a long-term perspective for managing pension funds, delegates were told.

UK - Investment markets have enjoyed plain sailing recently but experts believe they will soon hit choppier waters.

UK - Good corporate governance must become part of everyday business management, the new president of the Confederation of British Industry claims.

UK - Plans to appoint one or more deputy pensions ombudsmen could destabilise the consistency of the office's determinations, lawyers warn.

UK - The government has defended its £400m compensation plan for scheme members who lost pension savings when their firms collapsed.

UK - The government has been criticised for leaving out a provision in the Finance Bill to allow schemes to pay a bereavement grant on the death of a pensioner.