United Kingdom

UK - Default investment strategies lost nearly a quarter of their value during 2008 with an average return of -23%, an exclusive PensionsDCisions poll reveals.

Here they are - the winners of the UK Pensions Awards 2009.

UK - Alistair Darling has announced he will restrict higher-rate tax relief on pension contributions for people with incomes over £150,000 (US$217,822) from April 2011.

UK - Tesco has granted the trustees of its UK pension fund contingent property assets worth £500m, after reporting the scheme's deficit has nearly doubled.

UK - Rebuilding confidence in pensions must remain a priority for 2009, the National Association of Pension Funds urges.

UK - A move in this week's Budget to scrap higher rate tax relief on pension contributions would be "entirely wrong" and "a direct attack on middle Britain", the Association of British Insurers says.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund levy paid by companies could vary according to the geographical location of the sponsor, both within and outside the UK, Global Pensions has learned.

US / UK - A class action case brought against Vodafone by investors including the Lothian pension fund, which was initially dismissed over jurisdictional issues, has been reopened by judges in New York.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund's financial situation might drive trustees to consider a buyout to prevent their scheme falling into the lifeboat fund, Paternoster says.

UK - Troubled building society Dunfermline has applied for its pension scheme to enter the Pension Protection Fund.