Regions

INCLUDING: US - PERF looks to small investment managers; UK - BNY Mellon offered custody extension; AUSTRALIA - Vamos outlines ASFA plans; UK - Northern Trust expands EMEA team

INCLUDING: NETHERLANDS - PH&C creates investment head role; MACAU - Government to focus on pension provision; AUSTRALIA - QIC appoints head of institutional business; UK - SWIP chief executive announced; QATAR - Deutsche Bank expands into MENA; UK - DC...

EUROPE - Denmark has come out on top for the second year running and Italy has fared worst in a report ranking pension systems across Europe.

GLOBAL - Defined contribution (DC) and hybrid plans have prevailed among the world's leading employers, according to Mercer.

INCLUDING: CANADA - CPP inflows help results; SWEDEN - Aon shuts Swedish Investment division; UK - Fidelity adds to fixed income team; US - Barings announces senior appointments; Europe - HSBC Investments moves into Poland

ASIA-PACIFIC - The adoption of defined contribution (DC) pension schemes has grown rapidly to cope with the effects massive demographic shifts towards elderly populations, a report by Allianz Global Investors (AGI) has shown.

GLOBAL - A number of pension funds - some 17% - have considered upping their allocation to emerging markets in the wake of the recent credit crunch, found the results of November's Global Pensions 100 Panel.

GLOBAL - The predicted downturn in real estate returns has begun to be reflected in pension funds' allocations to the asset class, show the results of the latest Global Pensions 100 Panel.

INCLUDING - US - Mercer boosts to DC outsourcing business; UK - L&G to use postcode profiling; AUSTRALIA - Pension investment increases; UK - SWIP appoints sales director

EUROPE - European pension funds will be able to claim back taxes on foreign dividends, following a ruling against the Dutch government in the European Court of Justice (ECJ).