Regions

GLOBAL - Balanced pooled funds posted a negative median return of -4.1% in the second quarter 2006, ending a run of positive returns that stretched back to Q1 2003, Mellon Analytical Solutions has found.

GLOBAL - SEI Investments Company registered a US$1.6bn growth in its assets under management in the second quarter of 2006 due to the consolidation of the LSV Asset Management operations.

MALAYSIA - The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) registered an 11.7% increase, to RM13.2bn (US$3.6bn), in its total gross income over 2005, its latest annual report showed.

GLOBAL - Mellon Asset Management saw its assets under management (AuM) rise a significant US$55bn or 21% for the year ending June 30 2006, driven largely by the creation of the WestLB Mellon joint venture.

EUROPE - Pension funds are opening up to the idea of derivatives and uptake is likely to increase notably going forward, said Aberdeen Asset Management client director Dominic Delaforce.

GLOBAL - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) saw net revenues increase by 56% to $630m in the second quarter, when compared to the same period for 2005.

GLOBAL - Monarch Capital has become the 65th firm to join Deutsche Bank Global Markets' FXSelect Currency Managers platform, which Deutsche claims is receiving "huge" pension fund interest.

THE NETHERLANDS - High equity returns at the beginning of 2006 were eroded to a 0% return by a -5.2% performance in May, according to the WM Universe of Dutch pension funds.

EUROPE - A Eurozone property fund of fund aimed specifically at pension funds and institutional investors has been launched by Arlington Securities.

GLOBAL - State Street Corporation saw total revenue rise 8% in the second quarter of 2006 to US$1.7bn, up from $1.5bn in the previous quarter.