United Kingdom

UK - The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has elected Penny Green as vice president for 2002/2004.

UK - The Department of Health (DoH) is on the verge of settling with unions over the issue of backdated pension benefits for its part-time workers, according to a source at the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

UK - Average pay for appointed actuaries has rocketed by over 16% to almost £160,000 per year, says actuarial recruitment firm GAAPS.

UK - One shareholder meeting is of significance in the week beginning April 8, according to corporate governance specialists Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS).

UK - The £22bn Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is breaking the current trend among many pension funds by moving further into equities.

UK - Schroders has announced the appointment of Steven Wood as global head of trading.

UK - HSBC's current and former part-time employees can now claim millions in backdated benefits, following the bank's decision to retroactively admit them into its occupational pension scheme.

UK - Increased annuity rates can be achieved by bolstering annuities' property component, according to leading experts.

UK - Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) has launched what it claims is the biggest ever closed property fund this year - the UK Balanced Property Trust.

UK - Global Risk Management Services has taken on seven new analysts to meet growing fund manager demand for outsourced SRI research.