Europe

UK - IBM UK Pension Trust has dropped Aon Consulting as actuarial and investment adviser after more than 30 years.

UK - The Universities Superannuation Scheme met government representatives on Wednesday to set out how schemes can increase their influence on designing and implementing ethical policies.

UK - Trustees and scheme sponsors are paying greater attention to liabilities than ever before and the trend is set to continue, a leading fund manager claims.

UK - The government hopes to lure disillusioned City workers into teaching by offering them a safe, public sector final salary scheme.

UK -The Association of Property Unit Trusts may need to reinvent itself to adapt to the burgeoning indirect property market, new chairman Chris Laxton (pictured) claims.

UK - Property and private equity will be the most attractive alternative investment classes for pension funds in 2004, new research predicts.Standard Life Investments' annual Global Horizons report says both asset classes are likely to be safe and profitable...

UK - Gissings has recruited Bill Sharp (pictured) as practice leader professional standards in its actuarial practice from Mercer.

UK - JPMorgan Investor Services is taking over from State Street as custodian for the £800m Hanson Industrial Pension Scheme.

UK - Pointon York Sipp Solutions is holding a conference for IFAs on corporate SIPPs on February 5 at the Royal Cafe in London.

UK - Insurer Scottish Life has teamed up with software specialist Vebnet to provide a platform for small to medium-sized enterprises to access their pension schemes.