Europe

UK - The Confederation of British Industry has urged firms to "toughen up" on executive payout to rekindle confidence among shareholders.

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

UK - Bank workers at National Australia Group's three UK subsidiaries are warning of industrial action over plans to close their final salary scheme to new members.

UK - Morley Fund Management has clinched the largest socially responsible mandate ever awarded in the UK - a £100m brief from the £174m Unison Staff Pension Scheme.

UK - Jardine Lloyd Thompson is hosting a free breakfast seminar on pensions investment on October 14 in London.

UK - Gartmore Investment Management is launching a private equity division at the start of next year.

SCOTLAND - The Scottish Executive has refused to support a Bill that would grant same-sex couples the same pensions rights as married couples.

UK - Financial services giant Alexander Forbes has launched Investment Solutions, a multi-manager business which will target defined contribution and closed final salary schemes.

UK - Staff at engineering firm Smiths Group face a massive increase in contributions to bolster its ailing pension scheme.

UK - Jane Coffey has been appointed to the new role of head of equities at Royal London Asset Management (RLAM).