Europe

UK - Watson Wyatt and the London School of Economics are to hold a lecture on DC pension scheme investment strategy.

UK - Network Rail workers are voting on whether to strike over the closure of their final salary scheme to new members.

ITALY - Progress in Italy´s private pension fund market is still slow despite having escaped relatively unscathed from turbulent investment markets and a series of domestic corporate scandals, according to a recently published report.

UK - The FTSE Group has proposed radically overhauling its emerging market equity indices by creating a new tier of advanced emerging countries based on a new set of economic and political criteria.

UK - Firms should measure the success of newly-introduced flexible benefit schemes within the first three months, a leading consultant claims.

UK - Business leaders have been warned to expect an increase in shareholder revolts as unions urge investors to "flex their muscles".

UK - Taxpayers should not pick up the compensation bill for workers who have lost their pensions through company insolvency, law firm Glaisyers Solicitors says.

UK - Oil giant BP will face industrial action if 500 pension scheme members lose out when their jobs are transferred to another firm.

EUROPE - Restrictive investment regulations and defensive investment policies remain impediments to filling the pensions gap in central and eastern European countries (CEEC), according to a report from Allianz Dresdner Asset Management.

UK - Standard Life is consulting staff over the benefits it should offer them when the final salary scheme closes to new members.