Regions

In the first of a new series of bi-monthly interviews with scheme managers, ANDREW SHEEN speaks to West Midlands Pension Fund director of pensions Brian Bailey about how the credit crunch has accelerated changes in the £6.5bn fund's investment strategy...

EUROPE - A study of European retirement systems shows a wide range of pension provisions throughout the continent, says Allianz Global Investors.

EUROPE - European investors embraced passive management and de-risking strategies in 2008 following stock market downturn and a lack of faith in alternative asset classes.

GLOBAL - The 163-page list of the clients of Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities has been made public.

ROMANIA - Proposals to freeze mandatory second pillar contributions have met with fierce opposition and condemnation from European pension bodies.

GLOBAL - The fallout from the scandal surrounding Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities could affect three million people worldwide, estimates by Spanish law firm Cremades & Calvo Sotelo reveal.

GLOBAL - BlackRock has launched a pooled alternatives fund for pension schemes, charities and other institutional investors.

GLOBAL - Natixis Global Associates has launched two hedged equity funds - the Gateway US Equities Fund and the Gateway Euro Equities Fund.

GLOBAL - Aberdeen Asset Management has hired Paul Griffiths as global head of fixed income.

GLOBAL - SEI has said it received commitments for £4.8bn in new global institutional assets from 35 new clients in 2008.