Regions

GLOBAL - Fighting between life insurers and asset managers threatens to further stall the reform process in Korea.

GLOBAL - A swelling number of pension funds have terminated their relationship with Putnam Investments, the beleaguered US asset manager.

EUROPE - EU finance chiefs have been urged to make more effort to reform their pension systems and labour markets.

EUROPE - F&C, the pan-European asset manager with 90bn euros under management could be floated on the stock exchange by its parent Eureko.

EUROPE - Eurex, the Swiss-German bourse has won approval from Commodities Futures Trading Commission to set up an electronic operation in the US, defeating a strong lobby from the local Chicago bourses which opposed the move.

EUROPE - Fondenergia, the R254m Italian industry-wide pension scheme for energy and power workers, has achieved positive returns across all three new portfolios in its multicomparto scheme which were introduced in 2003.

GLOBAL - The 38% appreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar in 2003 wiped 7% off returns on international share holdings for Australian investors, according to InTech Financial Services.

GLOBAL - The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) has accused ASX-listed companies of failing to uphold corporate governance policies and practices outlined in their annual reports.

ROMANIA - This year should be the most significant yet in Romania's drive to reform its pension system with two new laws set to reach the statute book.

GLOBAL - Schemes should invest in China as growing investment in the manufacturing sector will provide considerable opportunities, Isis Asset Management claims.