United Kingdom

UK - Unions claim workers at chemical giant Rhodia are the first in Britain to strike over the closure of their final salary scheme to new members.

UK - The Ministry of Defence has denied claims it threatened scientist David Kelly with the loss of his pension when he was reprimanded only weeks before his apparent suicide.

UK - Nearly two-thirds of Britain's biggest firms no longer offer final salary pensions to new members, a survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting shows.

UK - Local authority manager-of-managers pioneer Wiltshire County Council is considering switching its entire £600m fund into the investment vehicle.

UK - People in affluent areas will get less from their pension pot than those in poorer areas under controversial plans being drawn up by Norwich Union.

UK - The Neptune Global Equity Fund has been ranked first out of 161 funds in the Investment Management Association's "global growth sector" over the last 12 months.

UK - Proposals allowing transsexuals to marry in their adoptive sex and apply for substitute birth certificates have been published by the government.

UK - Isis Asset Management has approved shares in directory service Yell, which is due to float, for its ethical funds.

UK - Former Barking and Dagenham council workers have won their protracted legal battle over the withdrawal of pension awards for long service.

UK/US - US-based Wal-Mart has amended its equal employment policy after talks with UK fund manager, Isis Asset Management.