Regions

EUROPE - Schemes are being urged to diversify their property real estate portfolios into the untapped British, Spanish and Swedish markets.

GLOBAL - Two leading socially responsible investment fund managers are spearheading a campaign into the risks and opportunities for multinational corporations with operations in China.

EUROPE - European private equity fundraising fell even more steeply in 2003 than in the previous two years, new figures from research firm Almeida Capital show.

The Institute of Actuaries will play a pivotal role in the implementation of government legislation over the next 12 months, incoming president Michael Pomery (pictured) promises.

GLOBAL - Fund management giant Amvescap has dropped plans to fight charges over its part in the US market timing scandal.

EXCLUSIVE NETHERLANDS - The e150bn ABP is considering a foray into CAT (Catastrophe) bonds and infrastructure bonds this year, in a bid to further diversify its portfolio.

NORWAY - The Government Petroleum Fund (Statens Petroleumsfond) is considering investments in emerging market fixed income.

Balanced pooled pension funds returned an average of 18.3% for the year to December 31, 2003, research from HSBC Actuaries and Consultants shows.

GLOBAL - The CSFB/Tremont Hedge Fund Index returned 1.95% for December 2003 and 15.44% for 2003.

EUROPE - The chief economist of the European Central Bank has warned that much more needs to be done to ensure that the European pensions systems are sustainable in the long term.