Europe

EUROPE - The UK state pension scheme is one of the best placed in expanded Europe, having among the highest number of workers supporting each state pensioner, new research reveals.

UK - Executives in final salary schemes who expect to have a pension worth over £25,000 per annum should switch to a DC plan to boost security, a leading IFA claims.

UK - Scottish Life is rolling out a hybrid fund which it says combines the retirement guarantees of defined benefit plan and the reduced financial risk of defined contribution schemes.

UK - HSBC Actuaries & Consultants has been appointed by Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre to provide a range of actuarial and investment consulting services to its defined benefit scheme.

UK - Retirees should not delay buying an annuity in the hope of improved returns despite an increase in providers' rates, the Annuity Bureau warns.

UK - Eleven professionals have received a diploma in international employee benefits.

UK - More than half of the workforce at technology giant Siemens have signed up for the government's Home Computing Initiative.

UK - Northern Trust have appointed Sally-Anne Callick (pictured) as vice president of UK Business Development for Northern Trust ‘s institutional custody and asset servicing business.

UK - The future for self-invested pension plans in the wake of new investment freedom will be discussed at a conference in London on June 24.

UK - Unions will increasingly be forced to accept the closure of final salary pensions to keep firms afloat, a law firm predicts.