Global

GLOBAL - International small-cap companies were the driving force behind strong gains for developed world equity markets in 2004, says ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P).

GLOBAL - World equity markets are expected to slowdown but will post "reasonably strong" returns for 2005, with global managers expecting the MSCI World Index to return 7.7% in 2005, down from 2004's 20.2%.

GLOBAL - The best returns in 2005 are likely to come from Hong Kong followed by Singapore and Australia, according to Baring Asset Management's outlook report for global markets and the economy in 2005.

MOLDOVA- The Republic of Moldova has improved its fiscal transparency, but there is no information on the state's unfunded pension liabilities, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

GUERNSEY - The number of funds serviced in Guernsey has grown by 15.5% during the last year with the total rising to 1,133 funds and subfunds, new research from Fitzrovia International has revealed.

GLOBAL - North American fund management firm Hartford Investment Management is targeting the UK and European credit markets in a push to secure more business outside of the US.

GLOBAL - A growing number of pension funds are increasingly focussing on liability driven investment (LDI) solutions in a bid to plug their pension fund deficits, according to a new study.

UKRAINE - Parex Asset Management Ukraine and Ukrainian company, Universal Investment Group, have launched an open non-government pension fund.

GLOBAL - Following the recent European acquisition of crossing competitor E-Crossnet, Investment Technology Group Inc. (ITG) has bought the remaining 50% share of its POSIT crossing network from BarraPOSIT, a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Capital International...

GLOBAL - Issuing an amendment to the IAS 19 accounting standard, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has decided to allow the option of recognising actuarial gains and losses in full in the period in which they occur, in a separate statement,...