United Kingdom

UK - The £777m Nationwide Pension Fund has dropped Schroder Investment Management as the manager of over two-thirds of its assets.

UK - Balanced pooled funds soared in value by 12.7% to the end of August, the latest IMAGE survey by HSBC Actuaries and Consultants reveals.

UK - Traditional "pensions" will be replaced by a range of long-term savings products, industry experts predict.

UK - Pensions are easily the most important employee benefit and are increasingly becoming a major incentive in recruiting the best people, a new study shows.

UK - Hedge fund managers are echoing consultants' calls for schemes to avoid any direct investments in the asset class.

UK - The Financial Services Authority's use of communications data is to be regulated in line with its peers.

UK - Trade minister Lord Sainsbury has warned company chiefs over two-tier pensions - despite benefiting from an executive scheme himself.

UK - Private equity house Gresham has appointed Paul Franks as investment manager in its Birmingham office.

UK - SEI Europe has appointed John St. Hill as a senior fixed income analyst, based in London.

UK - Pension schemes and other institutional investors will show a renewed interest in property as they seek refuge from volatile markets, DB Real Estate claims.