United Kingdom

UK- Barclays is in exclusive talks with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners over the sale of its exchange traded fund business iShares, a source close to the deal says.

UK - The average UK pension fund achieved a weighted average return of -13.6% in 2008, research from BNY Mellon Asset Servicing reveals.

UK - The £1.4bn Kingfisher Staff Pension Scheme has terminated a 130/30 mandate three years after the initial investment was made, MandateWire reports.

UK - The South Yorkshire Pensions Authority was "negligent" over the investment of £10m of deposits in a failed Icelandic bank after it had been downgraded by credit ratings agencies, the Audit Commission says.

UK - A £1.1bn government auction of 13-year 1.875% index-linked treasury gilts has been oversubscribed by 2.72 times.

UK - Legal & General has cut its final dividend by 50% to 2.05p per share, after it reported a operating loss of £189m.

UK - Significant rises in price levels are needed to stop negative inflation being used to calculate pension increases, Watson Wyatt calculates.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has called on the government to introduce measures to help firms reduce scheme liabilities.

UK - The £1bn (US$1.46bn) Somerset County Council pension fund has allocated £30m to emerging markets.

UK - There needs to be a proper debate between government and taxpayers about the long term affordability of public pensions, independent consultant John Ralfe says.