United Kingdom

UK - The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has confirmed Martin Clarke's appointment as permanent director of financial risk.

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) and Victorian Funds Management Corp (VFMC) look set to take a 48.25% stake of the UK's fifth largest airport for £420m ($US828m).

UK - British Airways received a £396m credit due to changes in the New Airways Pension Scheme according to its annual report, released today.

UK - JPMorgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has proposed that traditional defined contribution schemes default options should be overhauled to include total return strategies.

UK - Telecom giant BT's year end preliminary results show its defined benefit pension scheme has a £1bn surplus, calculated under the new IFRS accounting standards.

UK - Specialist global listed property firm, Cohen & Steers, has opened its second European office, in London.

UK - A group of hedge fund bands are set to rock Café de Paris in London in aid of disability charity ALTSO.

UK - Watson Wyatt have told pension funds that as long term investors they could benefit most from an environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach to investing.

UK - Consultancy firm bfinance has claimed the figure of 25% of local government pension schemes with some form of active currency allocation is set to "grow considerably".

UK - Gordon Brown may have at last given UK pension funds a break by removing stamp duty on foreign exchange traded funds on the London Stock Exchange, according to Lyxor AM which launched three such funds today.