United Kingdom

UK - The Pensions Trust has appointed two new managers to head the customer services departments at two of its regional offices.

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has been appointed by Apache Corporation to set up a new final salary scheme and provide pensions and benefits advice.

UK - Watson Wyatt's pension fund clients saw strong returns for assets in global and UK equities, but weak performance in UK index-linked and global government bonds.

UK - Hedge fund manager Man Group has launched a capital guaranteed fund, which aims to provide investors with annualised returns of 14-16%.

UK - IFA network Inter-Alliance has launched a series of training and education initiatives on income drawdown and pensions transfers to its members.

UK - Association of Consulting Actuaries chairman Gordon Pollock has attacked the government for "defending failed policies" and urged ministers to look again at pension reform.

UK - 2003 has started off on a relatively quiet note for the property market.

UK - Co-operative Insurance Society is offering prepayment funeral plans to retired members of occupational pension schemes.

UK - The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has identified companies it plans to target over remuneration reports that do not follow corporate governance best practice.

UK - Law firm Stevens & Bolton has appointed Alan Fowler pensions law specialist.