United Kingdom

UK - A comprehensive guide to the UK's burgeoning defined contribution sector will be published in the August 29 issue of IPN's sister publication, Professional Pensions.

UK - Pension funds have invested £91m in Deutsche Property Asset Management's Property Ventures Fund No 2.

UK - Steel manufacturer Caparo faces weekly strike action after talks aimed at finding a compromise over the closure of its final salary scheme broke down.

UK - Thousands of part-time workers have had their hopes of backdated entry into pension schemes dashed following an employment tribunal decision.

UK - Plunging stock markets have pushed the total FRS17 pension scheme deficit for UK firms through the £70bn barrier, new research by Watson Wyatt claims.

WALES - The £736m Torfaen County Borough Council (Greater Gwent) Pension Fund has issued details of specialist mandates with a combined value of £490m.

SCOTLAND - Coal Pension Trustees Services has called an emergency meeting to resolve a pension funding crisis at Scottish coal mine holding company Mining Scotland.

UK - Global ratings agency Fitch has warned UK companies that they may have to shut their final salary schemes to maintain their credit ratings.

UK - Employees at transport giant Stage Coach will have to increase their pension contributions by almost 40% if they want to save their final salary scheme.

UK - Insurance giant Royal & SunAlliance - facing a huge blackhole in its own pension scheme - is to close its life and pensions arm to new business.