Regions

GLOBAL - Private equity investments outperformed major benchmark indices over the past 20 years, with average excess returns of at least 3%, according to new research by analysts Capital Dynamics.

GLOBAL - Investor demand has driven the launch of absolute return and alternative funds, according to research by S&P.

EUROPE - Fortis, BNP Paribas and Dexia cited challenging market conditions to defend underperformance in Q1 2008.

GLOBAL - Over a third of savers think governments should do more to enforce private savings for retirement, while a quarter feel working longer is the key, according to research by HSBC and the University of Oxford.

AUSTRALIA/UK - QIC has appointed Brad Bowton and Lyn Gearing to its board bringing the membership to ten.

US/SWEDEN - CalPERS has appointed Kenneth W Marzion as interim CEO and AP4 has found a head of fixed income and currency.

EUROPE - T. Rowe Price and Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP) have both announced expansion plans across Europe.

GLOBAL - Real estate and global equities were the most popular asset classes in 2007, according to Mercer's Manager Search Report.

AFRICA - Talks have been held in Nigeria and Ghana to investigate establishing a fiduciary ratings agency in a bid to improve the continent's investment competitiveness.

International guidelines for pension fund licensing and governance issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IORPS) have been welcomed, even though the effects...