Europe

UK - Hedge fund manager Man Group has launched a capital guaranteed fund, which aims to provide investors with annualised returns of 14-16%.

UK - IFA network Inter-Alliance has launched a series of training and education initiatives on income drawdown and pensions transfers to its members.

UK - Association of Consulting Actuaries chairman Gordon Pollock has attacked the government for "defending failed policies" and urged ministers to look again at pension reform.

UK - 2003 has started off on a relatively quiet note for the property market.

UK - Co-operative Insurance Society is offering prepayment funeral plans to retired members of occupational pension schemes.

DENMARK - Nordea Bank has taken another step to reduce its real estate exposure by selling most of its remaining properties in Denmark to a consortium of investors.

EUROPE - Employee savings plans (ESPs) in France are set to see huge inflows of money, driven by new legislation, according to a survey by Celent Communications.

UK - The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has identified companies it plans to target over remuneration reports that do not follow corporate governance best practice.

UK - Law firm Stevens & Bolton has appointed Alan Fowler pensions law specialist.

UK/NORDICS - The London Stock Exchange has teamed up with NeoNet, the electronic agency brokerage, to offer NeoNet's electronic execution services to Nordic brokers and investors.