Europe

UK - FTSE100 companies dramatically upped pension contributions last year to a record £17.5bn ($27.8bn), data from Lane Clark & Peacock reveals.

UK - The Pensions Regulator chairman David Norgrove will step down from his role when his second term in post ends on 31 December.

EUROPE - European pension funds are shunning cash in favour of riskier alternative investments, a survey shows.

UK - British Airways' deal with its scheme trustee over how to plug its £3.7bn deficit has been approved by The Pensions Regulator.

Asia/UK - Baring Asset Management has appointed Wayne Shum to the newly created role of head of institutional business for Asia.

ITALY - The Italian government has raised the retirement age by three years as part of sweeping austerity measures.

UK - British Telecom is to challenge Ofcom's decision not to take into account its scheme deficit when setting its regulated charges.

UK - The government is proposing to scrap the default retirement age of 65 by October next year.

JAPAN/UK - Japanese fund house Chuo Mitsui and UK-based Standard Life Investments have partnered to cross-manage funds worth US$2.2bn.

US/UK - BNY Mellon Asset Management co-head and vice chairman Jon Little will leave the firm to join hedge fund Kedge Capital, a London-based alternatives firm.