Global

EUROPE- The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland could provide a unique investment opportunity following their entry into the European Union, Aberdeen Asset Management believes.

EUROPE - Restrictive investment regulations and defensive investment policies remain impediments to filling the pensions gap in central and eastern European countries (CEEC), according to a report from Allianz Dresdner Asset Management.

GLOBAL - The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) signalled a clear move towards FRS17 by proposing changes to the employee benefits standard IAS 19.

GLOBAL - Advanced Investment Partners (AIP), member of State Street Global Alliance - a joint partnership between ABP and SSgA - said that that its total assets under management have surpassed US$1bn. The quantitative equity fund manager has built its...

GLOBAL - Emerging markets continued to outperform other strategies, returning 1.83% for March 2004, according to the CSFB/Tremont Hedge Fund Index.

GLOBAL - The shift away from UK equities by domestic pension schemes may be partly offset by big investments from the Far East, experts believe.

THE NETHERLANDS - Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) have picked up an inflation linked bond index mandate from Stichting Pensioenfonds Sappi Netherlands, the Dutch subsidiary of Sappi, the world-wide manufacturer of paper products.

GLOBAL - Worldwide employees' lack of understanding in financial matters is hampering their saving enough for retirement, according to Larry Zimpleman, president of retirement and investors services at Principal Financial Group.

THE NETHERLANDS / UK - Gartmore has secured a e225m European equities mandate from a major Dutch pension scheme.

THE NETHERLANDS - Dutch pension giants ABP and PGGM have exercised their shareholder might against Van der Moolen, in refusing to approve the specialist market maker's 2003 accounts and voting against a series of agenda items presented at the AGM.