Regions

EUROPE - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has launched an information service which highlights rating trends across Europe.

UK/EUROPE - Planned European legislation could scupper simplification proposals in the pensions Green Paper, the Smith & Williamson Pension Consultancy claims.

EUROPE - The total volume of institutional fixed income trading in Europe and the Middle East has jumped nearly 25% in 2002, to over US$11trn.

EUROPE - The value of funds raised by European private equity funds fell by almost 30% in 2002 blighted by dismal markets with nearly half falling short of targets.

EUROPE - VKG, the 18,000-member pension fund for doctors, dentists and pharmacists, decided in April to change its strategic asset allocation away from equities, in a move to protect itself from declining equity markets.

EUROPE - ITG Europe, the technology-based equity trading services group, has hired Mark Freeman to head its hedge fund division.

GLOBAL - Baring Asset Management is pointing investors towards emerging markets and small/mid caps in order to eek out the best opportunities in 2003.

SOUTH AFRICA - South African automation finance provider Fintech has securitised a portion of its office equipment lease portfolio, the first public securitisation of office equipment, with assets totalling R680m.

GLOBAL - Professional and financial services group Smith & Williamson and investment management firm NCL have merged to create one independent fund management, financial advisory and accounting group.

GLOBAL - Assets in exchange traded funds are expected to grow by some 34% in 2003.