United Kingdom

UK - Women are still at the bottom end of the pensions and savings scale, according to a new report.

UK / EUROPE - Rothschild Asset Management has hired Baring Asset Management's (BAM) Ian Milton as its new assistant director and head of European institutional business development.

UK - Equitable Life, the beleaguered mutual insurer, has appointed Ron Bullen - the chairman of the Equitable Life Policyholders Action Group - to the board, along with two other new appointments.

UK - Hopes that occupational pension schemes would use stakeholder as replacement for AVCs have been dashed, providers claim.

UK - Pensions of occupational scheme members who have become bankrupt are now safer from the claims of creditors.

UK - Friends Ivory & Sime (FIS) has added Tim Sharman and Robin Wrench to its US equities team.

UK - Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith has warned that institutional investors could pull out of the UK following the government's actions over Railtrack.

UK -The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) has appointed Tony Hobman as it's new chief executive.

UK - Local government pension schemes have criticised the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy for its lack of guidance over FRS17.

UK - Independent trustees are urging pension funds to avoid any transfer deals with the Brand New Carpet Company, a firm which offers members cash for pension transfers.