United Kingdom

UK - The Institute of Directors and the British Bankers' Association has launched a new diploma aimed at raising corporate governance awareness among directors.

UK - Retail giant Boots has said that its pension charge is expected to rise by £40m to £70m in 2004/05, on the back of falling bond yields and the "roll-off" of the amortisation of earlier surpluses.

UK - The NAPF is hosting a range of training courses to assist those in the pensions industry this summer.

UK - More than a quarter of firms believe pension measures in the Budget will have a negative impact on their business, a study shows.

UK - Unions want new equality regulations revised because they enable pension schemes to discriminate against same-sex couples.

UK - Unions have dubbed four MG Rover directors "morally unacceptable" for setting aside £10m for their own pension funds.

UK - Employers are to be given tax incentives to offer pensions advice to staff.

UK - The government wants institutional investors - including pension funds - to help solve the housing crisis through investment in Property Investment Funds.

UK - UK-based SRI research house Innovest Strategic Value Advisors has teamed up with Stockholm-based firm Ethix to expand product screening in the Nordic region.

UK - Morley Fund Management chief executive Keith Jones will be the next chairman of the Association of British Insurers' investment committee.