United Kingdom

UK - Two local authority schemes have teamed up to produce total benefit statements as part of plans to encourage members to increase their savings.

UK - The department of health is hoping flexible benefits will help boost National Health Service recruitment.

UK - The number of schemes investing in hedge funds is expected to double this year as trustees seek to bolster returns and reduce risk.

UK - Standard & Poor's, the ratings agency, has appointed Alex Weiland as head of business development for its newly-established European pensions business.

UK - The Pre-Retirement Association is to launch a financial education website aimed at boosting savings levels.

UK - Morley Fund Management's shopping centre property fund, the Mall Fund, has returned 33.5% for 2003.

UK - Long-term balanced mandates have come under fire by a leading fund manager for their "inability to make strong and dynamic asset allocation" and their high-risk exposure.

UK/DENMARK - Danish pension funds PKA and Magistrenes Pensionskasse have signed agreements with Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRiS), the socially responsible investment firm.

UK - Company vans will be far more attractive to employers and employees after the government deregulates the tax rules governing them, accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers says.

UK - Increased pension costs have hit profits of half of all UK firms with Defined Benefit (DB) schemes and nearly a quarter have been forced to reduce investment in the business, according to new research.