Regions

EUROPE/UK - EU plans to extend temporary workers rights will cost businesses £95m in additional pay and pensions, government estimates reveal.

GLOBAL - Healthy stocks in key European markets, including the UK, helped to boost returns for international equity managers in 2002.

US/EUROPE - A US court ruling could herald a massive shake-up for the private equity sector, industry experts believe.

EUROPE - European markets will remain volatile this year but should also show real signs of recovery, Govett Investments believes.

GLOBAL - A positive year-end helped to salvage an otherwise tough 2002 for hedge funds.

GLOBAL - Market depreciation has wiped US$12bn (£7.5bn) off Goldman Sachs' assets under management worldwide.

EUROPE - Europe could prove to be the next hot bed for money market managers.

GLOBAL - A staggering US$1.4trn was knocked off institutional pension fund assets last year, dragging values down to levels not seen since 1997.

UK/EUROPE - LaSalle Investment Management has announced the final closing of its Euro Growth II property investment fund.

GLOBAL - Assets of IMMFA (Institutional Money Market Funds Association) member funds rose to US$130.4bn in the last quarter of 2002.