Global

Schemes with US equity inv-estments should brace themselves for two years of underperformance once the race for the White House is over, fund managers warn.

GLOBAL - Australia and Sweden have had the best performing equity and bond markets, according to a 104-year study of 16 countries published by ABN Amro.

GLOBAL - Fighting between life insurers and asset managers threatens to further stall the reform process in Korea.

GLOBAL - A swelling number of pension funds have terminated their relationship with Putnam Investments, the beleaguered US asset manager.

GLOBAL - The 38% appreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar in 2003 wiped 7% off returns on international share holdings for Australian investors, according to InTech Financial Services.

GLOBAL - The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) has accused ASX-listed companies of failing to uphold corporate governance policies and practices outlined in their annual reports.

ROMANIA - This year should be the most significant yet in Romania's drive to reform its pension system with two new laws set to reach the statute book.

GLOBAL - Schemes should invest in China as growing investment in the manufacturing sector will provide considerable opportunities, Isis Asset Management claims.

GLOBAL - Pension funds are likely to increase their allocation to Asia as the region seems poised for a sustained upturn, according to investment managers.

GLOBAL - Asian institutional investors are most bullish on Taiwanese shares, with an average 15.4% rate-of-return expectation, according to Greenwich Associates.