United Kingdom

UK - INTERNATIONAL Financial Data Services has upgraded its computer system in a bid to automate its valuation service.

UK - The £1.8bn Essex County Council Pension fund has appointed eight managers to run mandates equivalent to over half the scheme's assets.

UK - Six test cases are being planned by leading pension lawyers to end confusion over how guaranteed minimum pension payments are calculated on wind-ups.

UK - Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow is aiming to become the UK's best provider of pension administration services.

UK - A QUARTER of women in the financial services industry believe they have to look sexy to progress in their career, a study shows.

UK - Northern Venture Managers (NVM) has backed the £5m management buy-in/buy-out of Arrow, the Hull-based industrial doors group.

UK - Independent fund manager the Eden Group has appointed Robert Stone as head of sales trading.

UK - Jardine Lloyd Thompson has been chosen to provide administration services to the pension schemes of hotel chain Le Meridien and manufacturing firm CeDo.

UK - Compulsory pension contributions by employers and employees are backed by nearly two-thirds of the public, a major new study shows.

UK - Companies are walking into a "legal and industrial relations minefield" when they close their final salary schemes to new members, a leading lawyer warns.