Europe

EUROPE - Goldman Sachs Asset Management (Europe) has increased the number of its managing directors to 19.

UK - Pension scheme deficits which were said to be in excess of £100bn for FTSE100 schemes have now shrunk to under £50bn, riding on "favourable" investment changes, consultants estimate.

UK - Keeping a final salary pension scheme could be the difference between firms getting plaudits or brickbats from trade union Amicus.

FRANCE - Utilities giant Electricité de France (EdF) has agreed to a sweeping reform of its pension plan in response to European Commission demands.

UK - Royal London has appointed David Kneeshaw as chief executive of Scottish Life International.

UK - Population levels are set to soar by over five million in the next 25 years increasing the strain on the state pension system, a new report shows.

UK - King & Shaxson has completed its acquisition of Swiss Life Asset Management following regulatory approval from the Financial Services Authority.

UK - Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow will scoop most local authority mandates following Watson Wyatt's decision to quit the market in April last year.

UK - A scheme has been ordered to recalculate a member's final salary pension using a higher figure after being held to account over "sloppy wording".

UK - The drivers behind emerging market debt's good performance in 2003 will be stronger during the next 12 months, a leading fund manager claims.