United Kingdom

UK - Employee benefits are among the "most frequently" benchmarked activities by UK businesses measuring performance against competitors, new research reveals.

UK - Threadneedle Asset Management and MM Asset Management are joining forces to launch a DC pension product.

UK - Supermarket giant Tesco is piloting a benefits programme aimed at cutting unplanned absences among staff.

UK - Defined contribution scheme members need a "basic understanding of investment" to make suitable choices, Mercer Investment Consulting claims.

UK - Up to 33,000 staff at DIY warehouse giant Kingfisher are being offered a defined contribution scheme from Standard Life, its biggest DC mandate.

UK - Employers must be vigilant not to overcomplicate defined contribution schemes, a leading provider warns.

UK - The £630m Gloucestershire County Council Pension Fund has put the majority of its assets out to tender in a move from balanced to specialist investment management.

UK - Scheme members who have lost pension savings when their firms failed could be compensated several times over if the government tackled benefit fraud, funds claim.

UK - The Mall Property Fund has bought St George's Shopping Centre in Preston from Legal & General for £102.5m.

UK - Independent financial adviser Thomson's has boosted the resources available to its advisers by providing them with a database containing industry research and product information.