United Kingdom

UK - Pension funds are under further pressure following rating agency Standard & Poor's decision to focus the spotlight on scheme liabilities when awarding credit ratings, claim senior consultants.

UK - The Government Actuaries Department saw a large drop in the number of actuaries it employs last year, reveals annual report reveals.

UK - Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has dispelled speculation that it is up for sale by insisting it will boost its funds under management in the coming months.

UK - The NAPF is urging shareholders to abstain from the re-election of FTSE250 company Carpetright's chairman and chief executive Lord Harris at its AGM on August 13.

UK - FTSE100 companies face an aggregate FRS17 deficit of over £25bn, new research from actuary Lane Clark & Peacock shows.

UK - Simon Surtees and Alok Basu are to join Gartmore's Credit Research team.

UK - US engineering giant Parsons Group has refused to pay its UK scheme's shortfall in wind-up, leaving members facing cuts in their pensions of up to half their entitlement.

WALES - The £780.3m pension fund for the Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council is tendering a new specialist bond portfolio.

UK - Watson Wyatt has launched BenTrack, an Internet-based system that allows companies to manage pensions across different countries and business units.

UK - Pensions reform is set to be delayed until early next year owing to a row between the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions.