United Kingdom

UK - Baring Asset Management has appointed Gerry Ng managing director, head of sales business development and client service for Asia.

UK - Merill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Gavin Corr (pictured) to manage European Equity funds with a retail focus.

UK - The Conservatives and the National Association of Pension Funds are backing the campaign for a permanent pensions commission.

UK - Russell/Mellon has hired Euan MacLaren from State Street Bank & Trust as client relationship manager for financial institutions.

UK - The £20bn Universities Superannuation Scheme and fund managers RCM and BNP Paribas Asset Management have issued guidelines to help investors evaluate broker performance.

UK - The Financial Services Authority has published a supplementary policy statement to assist the industry as it strives to find a market-based solution to the transparency and accountability issues raised by soft and bundled brokerage commissions.

UK - Schemes are undergoing a massive shift from equities to bonds in a bid to diversify their portfolios, Legal & General Investment Management claims.

UK - Nordic Financial Systems (NFS) has responded to increased customer demand for its technical and business integration services to the treasury industry in Asia with the appointment of Christopher Jürss as senior technical consultant.

UK - The £195.1m Independent Television News Ltd (ITN) Pension Scheme has dropped incumbent investment consultant Watson Wyatt for Aon Consulting, representing the firm's second mandate loss to Aon in recent months.

UK - Only one in 10 public sector workers have saved enough for a comfortable retirement according to a local government pensions expert.