Europe

UK - Schemes are being urged to consider biodiversity as part of their socially responsible investment policies.

UK - Attica Asset Management has appointed Schroders to manage a UK equity mandate.

ITALY - Italy issued a record-breaking e7bn 30-year bond this week, aided by a slowdown in corporate issues, improved economics and the current popularity of Italian debt , wrote the Financial Times.

UK/EUROPE - Hedge fund-of-funds manager Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company has received FSA registration and established a London office.

UK - Unmarried and same-sex partners of armed forces personnel are to be given the same pensions rights as husbands and wives.

EUROPE - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised France for its pension reforms.

SCOTLAND - The City of Edinburgh Pension Fund looks set to have a £12m stake in Wolfson Microelectronics, as the Edinburgh-based company prepares to float.

UK - One million defined contribution scheme members are being short-changed because the government insists they buy a limited price indexed annuity, insurers claim.

UK - Workers have more faith in their employers to provide them with an adequate pension than the government.

UK - Insight Investment has increased its weighting in fixed income as bond yields reach a point it deems as "fair value".