United Kingdom

UK - Pension schemes are divided over how to act to the sharp falls in US equities following revelations of accounting irregularities at WorldCom and Xerox.

UK - New NAPF chief executive Christine Farnish has urged the government to reduce the red tape burden so employers can give workers "decent schemes".

UK - There's no hiding the fact that pension holders will be hit hard following this week's stock market dives, says Merrill Lynch.

UK - Fiona Meadows, leader of the family finance team at law firm Foot Anstey Sargent, has become a Solicitors Family Law Association specialist.

UK - Yell, the business directories company, has closed its defined benefit scheme to new members.

UK - Fledgling independent investment manager Ashcourt Asset Management has hired a senior investment manager as part of push into the UK pensions market.

UK - Schroders is to outsource its institutional and retail unit trust administration to International Financial Data Services.

UK - BT's pension scheme deficit using FRS17 calculation soared from £1.8bn to £4.2bn in the last three months, research by investment bank JP Morgan suggests.

UK - Goldman Sachs Asset Management's funds under management rose 11% in the last year from US$314bn to US$350bn.

UK - Fears over a massive deficit in British Airways' smaller pension plan - the New Airways Pension Scheme - have been heightened by the company's annual report.