United Kingdom

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds has hit out at fund managers for adding complexity to proposals in the Higgs combined code on corporate governance.

UK - Aberdeen Asset Management has launched an Asian smaller companies fund aimed at pension schemes.

UK - Pension schemes can boost their returns by switching active managers to higher performance targets with only a small increase in risk, delegates heard.

UK - Local authority schemes should consider abandoning their "one size fits all" investment strategies to take account of the various employers they represent, delegates at a recent conference were told.

UK - The Staffordshire County Council Pension Fund's FRS17 deficit has risen by £347m to £575m in the past year.

UK - Lay trustees must be consulted over any code of practice governing their duties or moves towards mandatory qualifications, trustee champion Brian Holden warns.

UK - Pension funds have recovered 50% of the losses they sustained during the three-year bear market, performance measurement specialist Russell/Mellon claims.

UK - Barra has launched an online risk tool which, it claims, will enable fixed income fund managers based in Europe to spot potential defaults early.

UK - The Trades Union Congress has launched a website aimed at promoting its national Pay for Pensions demonstration in London on June 19.

UK - Sir Derek Higgs will chair a conference next week examining the links between good governance and directors' liability.