Europe

UK - Trade unions are set to sue the government over its failure to recognise the pension rights of gay and lesbian couples.

EUROPE - European markets ended the third quarter of 2003 on a weaker note, largely down to profit-taking and cautious investors.

UK - Private bank C. Hoare & Co is looking to launch a "manager of multi-managers" fund for institutional investors.

UK - Pension funds' assets continued to rally over the third quarter returning close to 15% for the year to September 30, figures from Russell/Mellon CAPS show.

UK - Rolls Royce staff will be balloted by the end of the month on whether to take industrial action over pension cuts.

UK - A boardroom reshuffle at financial giant Barclays has angered shareholder groups, which claim the moves contravene best practice corporate governance guidelines.

UK - Middle income earners in final salary schemes may never clear the government's means-tested benefits regime.

EUROPE - Europe's top name companies should take a long hard look at their pension structures and stop blaming accounting standards for their problems.

UK - OPRA has relaxed its reporting requirements for statutory whistleblowers in a bid to reduce the number of minor reports it receives.

UK - Aon Consulting has hired Ali Khan to head up its Manchester office.Khan has over 13 years' experience in the employee benefits consulting arena, the majority of the time spent at Bacon & Woodrow, prior to its merger with Hewitt.