United Kingdom

UK - Personal pension payouts are now half that of six years ago, a survey by financial statistics provider Moneyfacts shows.

UK - Trade union calls for employers to contribute 10% of staff salaries to pension schemes have been attacked by the Confederation of British Industry.

UK - Financial advisers will face a powerful challenge from high street banks that transform themselves into financial centres, a report from Datamonitor claims.

UK - Conservatives accused the government of misleading the pensions industry over the number of people receiving means-tested benefits.

US/UK - Enrolling for benefits online continues to be first choice for employees in the US.

UK - Momentum Financial Services has appointed Nicholas Davies as financial services director at its Birmingham branch.

UK - Independent financial adviser Bateman Financial Management has released a book - Pensions Simplified - to help people save for retirement.

UK - Northern Venture Managers has backed the £2.2m management buyout of manufacturer Crabtree of Gateshead.

UK - Consultants have warned that OPRA's temporary relaxation of transfer rules will leave trustees open to claims from members.

UK - Half of all pension funds expect the stock market to fall further during the next six months, a survey by JPMorgan Fleming shows.