United Kingdom

UK - Employee benefits specialist Gissings urged the government to increase the state retirement age to prevent future poverty in old age.

UK - The £2bn YMCA Retirement Fund has appointed JPMorgan Investor Services as global custodian.

UK - Employers who regard pension scheme deficits as a short-term issue are kidding themselves and their employees, Hazell Carr Consulting warns.

UK/EUROPE - Scheme and asset managers are to meet to discuss investor expectations of corporate governance following a spate of scandals at large European companies.

UK - Capital Management Advisors Group has launched a 15-year capital guaranteed product linked to a fund-of-hedge funds.

UK - Morley Fund Management has appointed Ronnie Lim to be a senior analyst in its socially responsible investment team.

UK - Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow has launched Pension Scheme Healthcheck to help companies monitor and manage the level of risk in their pension schemes.

UK - A total of 82 independent financial advisers have been successful in the first sitting of the PMI's Financial Adviser Certificate in Trustee Pensions Knowledge.

UK - Fund managers have attacked the government over its shock announcement that it will only give the industry six months to comply with Myners.

UK - Professional Pensions hosted its annual UK pensions awards 2003 this week at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.