Regions

EUROPE - Standard Life has revealed it is investigating regulatory approval in four countries as it moves to set up a 'pan-European employee benefits hub'.

Pension funds around the world could see commodities ripped out of portfolios, if proposed legislation by the US Senate forbidding investment in the asset class is passed.

Employees' lack of appreciation about how much their pension scheme costs a company could push more firms into offering defined contribution (DC) plans, according to industry figures.

GLOBAL - Real estate and North American managers have provided the funds of choice for pension schemes moving towards alternatives, despite trustee concerns, according to Watson Wyatt.

GLOBAL - UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed allowing oil rich sovereign wealth funds to invest in energy projects in Britain and other oil consuming countries, as part of a plan to bring more stability to the oil market.

GLOBAL - Workers have not made enough efforts to plan for retirement and risk running out of money, according to research by MetLife.

GLOBAL - Mercer, State Street Corporation and Ermitage have added to their pensions staff.

GLOBAL - DB returns outperformed DC in the recent bull market, confirming fears of inadequate future income, according to Watson Wyatt.

Including: JAPAN - Govt mulls move from bonds to SWF; US - Possible pensions ban on commodities and futures; CANADA - CPPIB takes stake in Transurban

GLOBAL - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure (MSI) have struck a deal to acquire SAESA Group, Chile's second largest electricity distributor in geographical terms.