United Kingdom

UK - The UK government's decision to issue 50-year bonds from May has received a mixed response from the investment industry.

UK - F&C Asset Management lost £6.2bn in pension fund business in 2004, the firm's annual results have revealed.

UK - Comparing the value of internal and outsourced operations and understanding the costs and impact of fixed income and derivative instruments in funds have been named as two of the top concerns for UK fund managers in 2005.

UK - Fixed income manager BlueBay Asset Management has appointed Anthony Burton as financial controller.

UK - As the UK government looks set to follow France's lead and issue 50-year bonds, Investec Asset Management warns the move may be merely a "side-show" for investors.

UK - Capita Hartshead has been appointed as the new administrator for RWE Thames Water's pension arrangements.

UK - Merill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has added two to its global consultants group (GCG) and appointed Anne Swift to its Defined Contribution (DC) Pension team.

UK - Pension deficits for FTSE 100 companies stood at £63bn at the end of February despite the recent price rises in equity markets, according to Watson Wyatt.

UK - Institutional business accounted for e19.1bn of AXA Investment Managers' (AXA IM) record e29bn in new money in 2004, the firm has announced.

UK - Schroders has appointed Michael MacDonald-Smith head of UK defined contribution (DC) business in line with the firm's plans to build on its existing DC offering.