Global

GLOBAL - Global markets should provide reasonable returns during the rest of 2004 but schemes must be prepared to bear risk, Standard Life Investment warns.

AUSTRIA/RUSSIA - Raiffeisenbank Austria, the subisidiary of Raiffeisen International, has acquired the Moscow-based private pension fund Dobroe Delo, for an undisclosed amount.

AUSTRIA/RUSSIA - Raiffeisenbank Austria, the subisidiary of Raiffeisen International, has acquired the Moscow-based private pension fund Dobroe Delo, for an undisclosed amount.

GLOBAL - Emerging markets funds continued their robust performance, returning 2.53% in January 2004, according to latest figures from CSFB/Tremont Hedge Fund Index.

GLOBAL - The Japanese stock market remains attractive over the long-term, SG Asset Management says.

GLOBAL - Economists are predicting an interest rate "freeze" in the US, which will boost overseas equities and high yield corporate bonds.

GLOBAL - US tax payers will be forced to pick up the tab for collapsed defined benefit schemes, if legislative reforms are not enacted to improve the sickly financial position of the Pensions Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

GLOBAL - Fortis Investments has acquired the Japanese equity capability of the German-owned asset manager WestAM.

GLOBAL - In what could surely be the largest such scheme in the world, the pension scheme for unorganised workers in India is expected to cover 370m workers in a country of 1bn.

GLOBAL - Australia's largest fund managers raked in the greatest gains in 2003 with BGI topping the list, according to research from InTech Financial Services.