United Kingdom

UK - An international think-tank has criticised FRS17 and warns that full implementation will aggravate the funding gap.

UK - Chancellor Gordon Brown shaved UK growth hopes during his 2003 Budget, with commentators warning that future growth projections are too heavily dependent on an upsurge in the world economy.

UK - Gartmore has strengthened its global fixed income team with the appointments of Varkki Chacko and Mark Wauton.

UK - The Private Health Partnership has launched a service to provide immediate help and pensions advice for people suffering a chronic health condition or disability.

UK - Small business bosses are planning to use their firms as a pension when they retire, Abbey National Business claims.

UK - Schemes are being urged to bypass enhanced equity strategies and use hedge funds on their index portfolios to generate positive returns instead.

US/UK - A cross-section of US institutional investors, state treasurers and labour unions have called on Tyco International to set a specific timetable for the company to make a decision on returning the company from Bermuda to US soil.

UK - The minimum income guarantee has significantly reduced pensioner poverty, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

UK - The Pensions Research Accountants Group has updated its guidelines for trustees and scheme sponsors dealing with data protection issues.

UK - Crédit Agricole Alternative Investment Products Group (CA-AIPG), the alternative investment subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Asset Management, has registered the fund of hedge funds Green Way Arbitrage for distribution in the Netherlands. The move follows...