Europe

EUROPE - iShares, the range of exchange traded funds (ETFs) managed by Barclays Global Investors, is to close its nine sector funds after they failed to attract investor interest.

UK - PIFC Consulting has recruited Peter Taylor as managing director of People Solutions - its newly-formed human resources division.

NORWAY - The Government Petroleum Fund (Statens Petroleumsfond) has become the latest fund to benefit from the recent rebound in global equity markets, after posting its highest quarterly results since 1999.

UK - Schroder Investment Management has launched a range of structured products which will allow schemes to match their liabilities, manage risks and protect returns.

UK - A third of companies would be willing to give employees a day off to sort out their pension arrangements, new research suggests.

UK - Isis Asset Management has engaged with more than 500 firms this year on corporate governance and social responsibility issues.

UK - KPMG employees will find out next month whether the accounting giant will scale back pensions benefits to cope with its schemes' £71m deficit.

UK - English Welsh & Scottish Railway has been penalised by the pensions ombudsman for giving incorrect salary information to its scheme administrator.

UK - Cheval Properties has purchased a £125m retail portfolio of 34 shops from Morley Asset Management.

UK - Defined contribution scheme members can boost the value of their funds by using actively managed funds, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers claims.