United Kingdom

UK - International Accounting Standards Board moves to improve accounting transparency will leave insurers facing increasingly volatile balance sheets, the Association of British Insurers warns.

UK - International Financial Data Services (IFDS), a joint venture between State Street Corporation and DST, has hired Daniel Carpenter as head of sales for the UK.

UK - Clerical Medical is launching a bulk buyout plan for firms shutting their occupational schemes in favour of contract-based products.

UK - British Airways' pension schemes will trigger a cautious shift of assets back into equities, consultants believe.

UK - Northern Trust has enhanced its trade services capability for global institutional investment managers.

UK - Beachcroft Wansboroughs Consulting has appointed Ian Reynolds, formerly general manager of Commercial Union Life, as a senior consultant.

UK/EUROPE - Russell/Mellon CAPS has appointed David Harris to the role of head of client relations.

UK - Pensions advisory service OPAS is still overwhelmed with casework despite a 5% increase in the number of advisers.

UK - Threadneedle Investments has appointed Andrew Holliman to its global equity team.

UK - The SIPP market is about to undergo massive growth as investors move to exercise more control over their pensions, a report commissioned by Personal Pension Management shows.