Regions

GLOBAL - The Accounting Standards Board in the UK has been accused of a lack of joined up thinking with its international counterpart, following the release of a new discussion document on IAS 19.

INCLUDING: UK - Watson Wyatt expands in Bristol; FRANCE - EDHEC appoints research associate; UK - Ford to contribute $600m to Jaguar pension plan

NORDICS - JPMorgan Worldwide Securities Services is to take over Nordea's custody business, handling assets worth €200bn ($315.8bn), and expand its local deposit activity in Scandinavia.

EUROPE - Deutsche Bank's exchange traded fund (ETF) subsidiary, db x-trackers, is launching five products offering institutional investors cost efficient tools for non-derivative based shorting.

GLOBAL - The transition management industry has refused to be drawn into a debate about the adequacy of its services after a senior member claimed half of all global transition management businesses existed only out of pressure to maintain an industry...

INCLUDING: AUSTRALIA - Future Fund appointments; UK - PIMCO expands LDI business; UK - Watson Wyatt appoints new head of corporate consulting; UK - Payment breaks risk future stability

GLOBAL - Global Pensions has been shortlisted in the highly coveted PPA's Magazines 2008 awards for editorial and publishing excellence.

EUROPE - European institutional investors are missing out on billions in damages by failing to participate in US securities class actions, according to a new report.

INCLUDING: NETHERLANDS - Ping An acquires stake in Fortis; UK - Hewitt takes over New Bridge Street Consultants; US - CalPERS reports Q4 losses; NEW ZEALAND - NZ Super Fund appointment

EUROPE - Campaigners claim pressure on European pension funds to divest from PetroChina is mounting, after members of the European Parliament sold their scheme's stocks in the company accused of bankrolling the Sudanese regime.