Regions

UK - ETF Securities is to launch 29 separate ETCs in the UK within the next few weeks, allowing access to a chocolate box of previously inaccessible commodities.

EUROPE - Teesland iOG aims to raise e280m equity from institutional investors following the launch of its Nordic Aktiv Property Fund - the first in a series of high-yielding multi-sector and specialist funds the firm plans to launch in Europe.

GLOBAL - Northern Trust Global Investments hopes the new UCITS III and distributor status of its global cash funds will make them more attractive to more institutional investors.

GLOBAL - Pictet has launched two new funds covering local currency emerging debt to tap into a market estimated to be worth US$3trn, almost five times that of the shrinking external debt market.

SCANDINAVIA - Nordic pension funds and other institutional investors are showing increasing demand for alternative assets, according to Standard Life Investments.

EUROPE - Asset liability management advice is unlikely to become a low skill, commodity business, according to F&C Asset Management.

GLOBAL - Moves by the major ratings agencies to develop credit and risk ratings on hedge funds have been welcomed by the hedge fund industry.

MALAYSIA - The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) posted returns of RM3.6bn (US$980m) over the second quarter of 2006.

EUROPE - Citigroup has launched a European Insurance and Pension Structured Solutions group (IPSS) to be based in London.

GLOBAL - Northern Trust said it had appointed Stephen Andress to the newly-created role of global head of derivatives operations on the back of increasing derivatives demand from investor and fund manager clients.