Regions

UK/EU - UK Unions have vowed to oppose any move from the government to water down an EU directive that gives agency workers the same pension rights as permanent staff.

EUROPE - Investors in European private equity and venture capital are still in for a rocky ride despite "solid" returns over 2002.

GLOBAL - While City pundits look to blame a possible war with Iraq for stockmarket turbulence, one leading chief investment officer believes that any conflict is clouding the deeper problems facing investors and the financial services industry.

GLOBAL - Index funds are not the place to be during the current torrid climate, according to FX Concepts.

EUROPE - Barclays Global Investors is to introduce Europe's first ever corporate bond exchange traded fund next week.

EUROPE - The single currency is damaging schemes' European investments and is set to push Germany into a decade-long recession, warns State Street Global Advisors.

GLOBAL - Stock market losses total US$13trn since 2000, or US$2,000 for every man, woman, and child on the planet, a new research report has shown.

UK/IRAQ - Insurance companies have assured schemes that death benefits will be paid on reservists killed after being called up for a war against Iraq.

EUROPE - The importance of consultants in giving advice to Swiss pension funds is rising, reports Christine Senior.

AFRICA - Alexander Forbes (AF) has agreed to acquire 60% of East African actuarial services firm Hymans Robertson Kenya for approximately £650,000 with the balance of the shareholding being held by senior Hymans Robertson Kenya staff.