United Kingdom

UK - Standard Life Investments' record funds under management high of £95.7bn at the end of 2004 was attributed to "rapidly growing" sales of UK institutional business.

UK - All pensioners should receive minimum retirement income, partly funded by compulsory contributions from employers and employees, according to actuarial consultants Punter Southall.

UK - The sharpest differential between UK employers offering DB schemes for existing and new employees is in the manufacturing and production sector, according to a new report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

UK - The £1.66bn Nottinghamshire County Council Pension Fund is tendering for a £300m diversified fixed income manager and a £100m UK equities manager.

UK - Boards of directors are companies' key to minimising the risks and reaping the rewards of good corporate governance, according to Standard Life Investments.

UK - Hedge fund performance fees vary widely, with one third of alternative investment funds charging performance fee at a level other than 20% of net gains, new research by Fitzrovia has found.

UK - Mellon Global Investments Limited (MGI), the international distribution subsidiary of Mellon Financial Corporation, has appointed Guy Hudson director of business development.

UK - Barclays has extended its business process outsourcing (BPO) contract, worth about £45m, with Siemens Business Services for a further two years.

UK - The government's estimated bill for industry compliance with the latest revisions to the Myners' principles for institutional investment decision-making is "flawed", according to Hammonds solicitor Clifford Sims.

UK - Balanced pooled pension funds last year moved money out of UK equities and into overseas equities, resulting in the lowest UK equities weighting in 15 years, according to Russell/Mellon.