United Kingdom

UK - The UK economy faces a one in three chance of falling back into recession by 2012, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has warned.

UK - Government plans to switch inflation-linked uplifts for final salary pension schemes from the retail price index (RPI) to the consumer price index (CPI) have had an instant and negative effect on the UK index-linked gilt market, Aegon Asset Management...

UK - An Association of Member Nominated Trustees and Directors is set to be launched this year in response to growing demand within the industry.

UK - Threadneedle has appointed Mark Burgess as chief investment officer ahead of Sarah Arkle's retirement.

UK - Pensions minister Steve Webb has made a written statement to parliament clarifying the government's proposals to index private sector pension increases to CPI rather than RPI.

UK/EUROPE/US - Risk Management Solutions has launched a medical-based approach to quantifying longevity risk that takes account of changing mortality phases.

The merger between Aon Consulting and Hewitt Associates marks yet another step in industry consolidation.

UK - Proposals to index private sector pension increases to the Consumer Price Index amount to a "stealth cut" on the average worker's retirement pot, unions have claimed.

UK - Xafinity has bought PricewaterhouseCoopers' scheme actuary, pensions administration and investment consulting business for an undisclosed sum.

UK/CANADA - The UK's Pensions Regulator has issued a Financial Support Direction against companies in the Canada-based Nortel grou,p requiring them to provide support for the UK scheme, which had a £2.1bn (US$3.1bn) shortfall on a buyout basis.