Global

GLOBAL - While demand is increasing for products giving pension funds protection against longevity risk, providers are struggling to come up with simple, cost-effective solutions, a State Street report has claimed.

GLOBAL - Almost half of asset owners in North America see liability mismatch as the biggest risk in managing their pension plan, compared to just 20% in Europe, research from State Street has revealed.

GLOBAL - MSCI Barra has launched a set of Global Minimum Volatility Indices as a benchmark for managed volatility investment strategies.

The traditional asset classes of equities, bonds and cash are battling against an unusual cocktail of belligerently high inflation and slowing economic momentum. Julian Lyne explores the alternative investment solutions available to pension funds

CEE - Aegon plans to target small pension funds for acquisition in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in its bid to win a 10% market share of the region's mandatory schemes by 2010.

SPAIN - FTSE and Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) have launched a responsible investment index for companies displaying good corporate responsibility.

GLOBAL - Longevity and caring for elder relations and children is squeezing the baby boomer generation and putting retirement security at risk, the Hartford Financial Services Group has warned.

INCLUDING: US - State Street names chief risk officer; UK/US - AIMA and MFA enter alliance; UK - NAPF releases conference video footage; US - Colorado's FFPA retains BNY Mellon

GLOBAL - Over three quarters of pension funds take asset managers' corporate culture into consideration when awarding mandates, according to the latest Global Pensions 100 Panel survey.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund - Global is to make real estate a separate asset class and expand its benchmark portfolio to include more emerging markets, finance minister Kristin Halvorsen has revealed.