Regions

MIDDLE EAST - An increase in multi-national companies in the Middle East is driving demand for Western-style pay and benefit practices, according to Mercer.

GLOBAL - Experts have questioned the usefulness of research by the University of Cambridge which shows a direct correlation between levels of testosterone and cortisol present in traders' bodies and the profits they make.

GLOBAL - Tough markets, blurring lines between investment product providers and the continued polarisation of alpha and beta present a significant threat to asset managers, according to research from McKinsey & Company.

INCLUDING: Korea - Standard & Poor's ups Korean coverage; Middle East - Citigroup expands services to region; UK - Deutsche Bank lists money market ETFs

GLOBAL - US listed ETF providers have been the latest to feel the credit crunch pinch as assets under management (AuM) have taken a tumble in recent weeks.

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.

TURKEY - Cordea Savills has opened a property fund and Lyxor has launched an ETF to capitalise on Turkey's expanding economy.

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.

EUROPE - Defined contribution (DC) pension scheme providers said the key concerns for plan providers were effective communication with members (59%) and ensure understanding (57%), according to a survey by Mercer.