Regions

EUROPE - The European Commission will produce a green paper on demography and support member states in reforming pensions as part of its new social agenda for modernising Europe's social model under the revamped Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.

EUROPE- The Association of European Investment Funds and Companies (FEFSI) has changed its name to the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) to reflect the organisation's growing asset management membership.

EUROPE- Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy (pictured) has said the directorate is exploring a possible shareholders rights directive in the third quarter.

US-The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) will continue pursuing the termination of United Airlines pilot's pension plans despite a union vote ratifying a new agreement and the termination of US Airway's US$3bn pilots pension scheme.

GLOBAL - A group of 143 institutional investors including a number of pension fund giants with assets of US$20trn under management have collaborated to request the 500 largest companies in the world to disclose investment-relevant information concerning...

EUROPE - Despite positive performance from the equity and bond markets and a 60% increase in company contributions, the collective deficit of European pension funds only fell 6% in 2004, leaving a gaping deficit of e214bn at year-end, according to research...

GLOBAL - William Hunt (pictured) has been appointed president and chief executive officer of State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), the company's asset management arm, effective immediately.

GLOBAL - William Hunt has been appointed president and chief executive officer of State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), the company's asset management arm, effective immediately.

ASIA - Institutional investors in Asia expect another year of double-digit returns from local equity markets, according to new research from Greenwich Associates.

GLOBAL - The case for emerging markets remains compelling as the asset class continues to offer excellent value in comparison to developed markets.