Europe

UK - Friends Provident is unveiling a new system which enables staff to join group personal pension or stakeholder schemes online.

UK - Scheme equity portfolios will benefit from a sustainable global economic recovery, fund managers believe.

UK - The pensions ombudsman could be on a collision course with the courts following an "act of defiance" over his jurisdiction, lawyers warn.

UK/EU - Consultants are urging the government to spell out the impact new EU employment laws will have on firms with closed final salary schemes.

UK - Independent actuary Garvins is targeting small schemes by claiming it can offer them better value for money than larger consultants.

UK - The Pensions Trust has dropped Watson Wyatt as its actuarial consultant and appointed HSBC Actuaries and Consultants in its place.

UK - A tailored online administration platform is being launched by Aegon UK to help IFAs seize business in the burgeoning flexible benefits market.

UK - Birmingham-headquarterd law firm Wragge & Co has appointed Jason Coates as a London-based pensions partner, effective November 1.

UK/EU - Consultants are urging the government to spell out the impact new EU employment laws will have on firms with closed final salary schemes.

UK - Trade unions and industry leaders are renewing calls for retrospective pension protection following the collapse of Appledore Shipbuilding, Britain's oldest shipbuilder.