United Kingdom

UK - Scottish Widows has increased its hold on the stakeholder market winning 1000 new company clients during the first half of the year.

UK - Scottish Mutual is to offer six new funds for its group personal pension product.

UK - OPRA has disclosed a second pensions liberator - Liverpool-based Glenworthy - which has also been put into wind-up.

UK - The Financial Services Authority is to simplify the listing rules for the London Stock Exchange, in light of the Enron and WorldCom accounting scandals.

US/UK - US corporate high yields are set to deliver robust returns during the next six months, providing the country can stave off a double-dip recession, according to Baring Asset Management (BAM).

UK - Abbey National is to close its stakeholder scheme to new business claiming most employers have designated providers by now.

UK - Government proposals to make means tested benefits more generous for pensioners reduce the incentive for low paid workers to save in occupational schemes, the Institute for Fiscal Studies claims.

UK - Clerical Medical is considering redesigning its FutureProof range of group pensions 12 months after being forced to close to new business.

UK - Hedge fund managers have hit back at critics who have blamed them for causing stock market volatility through short selling.

UK - Alan Pickering is to discuss his Simplification Report in a seminar held by law firm Norton Rose in London on September 4.