United Kingdom

UK - Politicians are scared of making a decision on the age of retirement according to Tom Ross, vice president of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland, who claims that that particular power should rest with an independent committee of experts.

UK - FTSE's socially responsible index, FTSE4GOOD is in talks with a number of weapons, tobacco and nuclear fuels company, following a decision to re-examine inclusion criteria.

UK - London-based Gartmore has hired Jon Thornton as its new head of UK equities, joining the firm at the end of the month.

UK - Consulting actuaries Punter Southall has today announced the launch of a specialist unit dedicated to retirement planning for senior executives.

UK - Despite a slowing world economy, the number of pessimists has only increased from 2% to 5% since the previous year, according to the annual survey of the property investment market by Baring, Houston & Saunders (BH&S), a member of ING Real Estate....

UK - Schemes are awaiting the result of the dispute between computer giant IBM and a former manager of its £4.3bn UK pension plan, a clash which could result in a landmark decision by the pensions ombudsman on the use of fund surpluses.

UK - Calor Gas has hired Aegon and Mirabaud Investment Management to run new mandates for its £240m pension fund.

UK - Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA) Investments has added to its institutional fund management team, with the appointment of Jeremy Thomas as a UK fund manager.

UK - William M Mercer is running a new, basic course in defined contribution pension plans for personnel in human resources, finance and administration.

UK - Linklaters has denied raising an 11th-hour objection to the proposed Equitable Life compromise that could threaten the whole deal, despite reports to the contrary.