United Kingdom

UK - Puma, a property fund with a seven-year lifespan, is being targeted at institutional investors seeking returns higher than equities and bonds.

UK - David Willetts MP, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions has heavily criticised the government, claiming that savings are plummeting.

UK - The government must bite the bullet on compulsory pensions' savings, delegates at the NAPF conference in Brighton were told today.

UK - Making Myners' proposals law would run counter to the government's own aims to ease pensions red tape, the Society of Pension Consultants warns.

UK - Firms are being urged to review their pension scheme contribution rates following the Chancellor's decision to increase National Insurance rates.

UK - Tough guidelines to force fund managers to disclose more information to pension schemes have been agreed.

UK - Chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) Peter Thompson has hit out at the government for failing to address the decline in retirement savings.

UK - Prudential is set to sell its DB administration business to consulting actuary Hazell Carr in a bid to cut costs, senior industry sources have revealed.

EUROPE/UK -Treasury civil servants want to end funded pensions but are trying to pass the blame on to the EU, a leading consultant claims.

UK - Nearly a quarter of defined benefit schemes in the UK are set to close to new members over the next two years, with 11% set to close outright.