United Kingdom

Against a backdrop of deepening crisis that continues to cause severe strains to economies worldwide, Royal Mail Pensions Trustees chief executive Gerry Degaute says there is little to be happy about for UK pension schemes.

UK - British Airways and BT could cut dividends in a bid to reduce pension deficits, in line with advice produced by the Pensions Regulator.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund has appointed a new chief investment officer to oversee its investment portfolio, which is currently worth more than £3bn.

UK - Listed private equity fund of funds SVG Capital has posted a decline in net assets per share of 64.3%, in what the company's chairman Nicholas Ferguson called "the most difficult period in the company's history".

UK - Television company ITV is set to begin consultation with trustees and staff over possible changes to the defined benefit sections of its pension scheme.

UK - Falling markets have left some investments in defined contribution schemes worth less than the cash contributions made into them, PricewaterhouseCoopers says.

UK - The £23bn (US$32.3bn) Universities Superannuation Scheme has made the first hire for its planned move into hedge funds.

UK - A war of words has erupted between former RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin and city minister Lord Myners after the ex-banker refused to give back some or all of his £650,000 (US$922,600) a year pension.

UK - Cuts in pension staff will be "key" to a restructuring at Legal & General, the insurer says.

UK - The funding position of RBS Group's pension scheme fell by £2.3bn during 2008, company results reveal.