United Kingdom

UK - Baillie Gifford is to launch a new global equities fund later this year.The move follows its decision to close to new UK equities business in late January.

UK/NETHERLANDS - Dick de Beus (pictured), the outgoing chairman of the Dutch pension fund PGGM, has been appointed to the F&C Board as independent non-executive director with immediate effect.   After 25 years with PGGM, de Beus is expected to retire...

UK - Employers must strive to make pension schemes as transparent as possible, delegates at the conference on corporate SIPPs: The long-term solution to the pensions crisis? heard.

UK - Industry hopes of an early increase in the 1% cap on stakeholder pensions have been boosted by "government flexibility" on a similar investment vehicle.

UK - A cross-party panel of MPs met on Tuesday to discuss the future of the state pension system.

UK - A panel of industry experts will explore the legal, industrial and economic issues underpinning current pension thinking at a conference run by the Institute of Employment Rights.

UK/BELGIUM - Lane Clark & Peacock, the actuarial and benefits consultancy, has acquired Ernst & Young Belgium's actuarial consulting and IT business, in a bid to "significantly" strengthen its pan European service.

UK - Nagging uncertainties within the annuity market will be dispelled by the end of the first quarter, leading annuity providers say.

UK - Chief investment officers are broadly optimistic for growth in assets under management over the next 12 months, a new survey shows.

UK - Scheme deficits will curtail Britain's economic growth unless the government devises ways of making pension provision more affordable for employers, Mercer Human Resource Consulting warns.