United Kingdom

UK - The future survival of beleaguered support services company WS Atkins is threatened by its growing pension deficit, City analysts claim.

UK - The Universities Superannuation Fund has urged the government to create a qualitative way of measuring board composition and performance.

UK - Hymans Robertson has appointed Andrew Callis and Peter Kane as senior consultants to boost its employee benefits team.

UK/EU - A bitter row over pension rights for agency workers has flared between employers and trade unions.

UK - Guernsey law firm Carey Langolis has hired Christian Wharton to join the company's London office to expand its offshore pension and benefits practice.

UK - Hermes Property Asset Management has sold 13 high-street retail properties to Axa Real Estate Investment Management for more than £43m.

UK - Pension funds have criticised moves by the Institute of Chartered Accountants to cut auditors' contracts from seven years to five for not being radical enough.

UK - Standard & Poor's is integrating its websites.

UK - The financial services sector has had to cut costs to boost profitability as a result of declining business volumes, a new survey reveals.

UK - Barnett Waddingham partner Mark Howard has been elected as the new chairman of the Association of Pensioneer Trustees.