Regions

MALAYSIA - The Malaysian government plans to conduct a full review of institutional investment strategies to see if any changes could lead to a more robust local economy.

US/UK - BP , whose share price has dropped 29% since last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, will face opposition from two of the US's largest pension funds at the company's annual general meeting tomorrow.

Proposed European Union plans to make scheme funding rules uniform across member states could force UK firms to pay off deficits faster, Towers Watson warns.

EUROPE - APG and Australian property firm Goodman have joined forces as part of a consortium making a €1.2bn ($1.7bn) bid for ProLogis European Properties.

GLOBAL - Infrastructure fund managers are focussing their investment strategies on transport and energy sectors, research shows.

MALAYSIA - A new third pillar pension will be in place in Malaysia by year-end, prime minister Najib Razak said today.

EUROPE - KAS Bank has developed an app for the iPad which enables pension fund managers, trustees, sponsors and fund administrators to access up-to-date fund data at any time and from any location.

NORWAY - Norway's Government Pension Fund Global should reduce its weighting to Europe and will consider changes to its fixed income portfolio, finance minister Sigbjorn Johnsen said in a report to parliament today.

GLOBAL - Pictet Asset Management is to launch a pooled fund for institutional investors following growing client demand for environmental, social and governance opportunities.

US/CANADA - Searches for hedge fund managers and inflation-hedging strategies among North American institutions will dominate search activity in 2011, a new survey of consultants finds.