Regions

GLOBAL - Pension funds across the globe poured more than US$62bn into alternatives in 2004 with property being the most popular asset class, according to new research from Watson Wyatt.

EUROPE - State Street Global Markets, the investment research and trading arm of State Street Corporation, has appointed Stephen Swift to vice president of its equity sales team in the UK.

EUROPE - Stefan Bichsel, member of the management board of Amsterdam based Robeco Group, has been elected as president of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA).

EUROPE - PIMCO Europe has appointed Henk Jan van Zoelen of Watson Wyatt as a senior account manager, focussing on servicing Dutch institutional clients.

EUROPE - Hermes Pensions Management is the latest in a line of asset managers and pension funds that have joined the Enhanced Analytics Initiative (EAI).

EUROPE - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Timothy Quinn (pictured) as a director of its global consultants group, focussing on developing relationships with investment consultants across continental Europe.

GLOBAL - Dan DeCanniere, chief financial officer at Hewitt Associates, has resigned.

EUROPE - F&C Asset Management has bought Martin Currie Investment Management's private equity funds business with the aim of developing a significant fund of funds offering for its pan-European clients.

GLOBAL - Despite announcing a 27% slip in overall group profits, Goldman Sachs Asset Management registered an 18% rise in assets under management over the second quarter of trading for 2005.

EUROPE - Morley Fund Management has appointed Tim Barker as head of credit analysis, based in London.