United Kingdom

UK - Govett Investments' US bear fund has risen by 60.7% over three years in a falling market and by 6.3% in the last year.

UK - More than a third of pensioners wish they had invested more for their retirement, research by Britannic Asset Management reveals.

UK - A cashback annuity - the Challenger Open Annuity -  is now on offer for people with large funds.

UK/EUROPE - The pensions crisis will worsen if Britain joins the euro, the Institute of Directors warns.

UK - Engineering company VAI UK is set to launch an online benefits system for its 450 workers who are based in three locations nationwide. The system is designed to help VAI staff understand their benefits better before the firm moves to a flexible benefits...

UK - Capital Cranfield Trustees has been asked by OPRA to continue as the independent trustee of pensions liberators, the Brand New Carpet Company and Glenworthy.

GERMANY/UK - The Deutsche Postbank pension scheme achieved straight-through processing rates of over 99% according to its payment processing supplier JPMorgan Treasury Services.

UK - Final salary schemes are ignoring the minimum funding requirement when calculating transfer values, it has been revealed.

UK - Steel firm ASW could face legal action over its decision to wind-up both its £119m schemes amid claims that one was in a healthy state.

UK - The Volkswagen Group has launched an online system for its 580 UK workers to help it communicate employee benefits more effectively.