Regions

EUROPE - In Belgium a new sectorwide fund for workers in the food distribution industry will be established from April this year.

UK - The Czech government has revealed plans to set up a notional defined contribution scheme for its first pillar pensions in the mould of the Swedish system.

EUROPE - Mellon Global Securities Services has appointed Cathy Kinsella (pictured) as trustee manager for its trustee business in Ireland.

EUROPE - Fund managers will have to assess the impacts of pollution and climate change in considering which companies to invest in, according to industry experts speaking at a recent conference.

GLOBAL - New measures to ensure safer superannuation schemes have been brought before parliament by the Australian government.

GLOBAL - Most analysts say the signs augur well for continued global performance in 2004, particularly for equities in relation to bonds.

EUROPE - The Committee of European Securities Regulators has published its recommendations for regulators on how listed companies can communicate the financial impact of moving to international accounting standards in 2005.

GLOBAL - Fund managers are forecasting modest equity returns over the coming 12 months - their most optimistic annual prediction for two years.

EUROPE- The "pensions effect" was one positive factor to impact on European asset managers in McKinsey's annual European Asset Management Economics Survey.

EUROPE - Germany's opposition CDU party has endorsed a set of principles put forward by a working party under ex-federal president Roman Herzog aimed at stabilising the state pension system and increasing emphasis on private provision.