United Kingdom

UK - A "significant minority" of employers are planning to increase retirement age, research next month will show.

UK - Pension schemes are set to produce their first year of positive returns since the bear market started, estimates from the WM Company show.

UK - Pension funds have put the management structure at oil giant Shell under scrutiny after an over-estimation of its oil and natural gas reserves.

UK - The corporate governance joint venture between the National Association of Pension Funds and Institutional Shareholder Services is up and running.

UK - Standard Life is to consider demutualising after talks with regulators over its solvency.

UK - Kevin Hardy (pictured) has been hired by Northern Trust Global Investments (NTGI) as the new European director of transition management.

UK - Law firm Lovells is hosting a seminar on pension tax simplification.

UK - Scottish Life has launched an employee benefits management system which, it says, will allow pension providers to "stand apart from their competitors".

UK - The Wesleyan Assurance Society with-profits life and pension fund produced an impressive 17% gross investment return last year, despite an 80% investment in equities.

UK - Pensions Investment Research Consultants recommended shareholders vote against "excessive rewards" for directors of the merged ITV network.