Regions

THE NETHERLANDS - Heerlen-headquartered ABP is to introduce a long/short market neutral strategy into its portfolio, developed by Advanced Investment Technology (AIT), a unit of State Street Global Alliance (SSGA).

GLOBAL - Institutional investors can enhance portfolio value and deliver increased benefits to members and beneficiaries by using economic, environmental and social factors in investment decisions, according to SRI World Group.

GLOBAL - Anglo/American financial services group Amvescap became the latest casualty of turbulent markets, reporting a "disappointing" 31% drop in gross profits, according to the firm.

EUROPE - Winterthur Life & Pensions, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse Group - has appointed Michael Franz as CEO for Central and Eastern Europe in a bid to develop operations in the region.

GLOBAL - Axa Investment Managers (Axa IM) has created a division to house all its structured and hedge fund businesses.

EUROPE - Fortis Investment Management (FIM) - the investment arm of EUR34bn Fortis AG - is to start eyeing possible European distribution partners.

THE NETHERLANDS - The EUR13bn Dutch metal and engineering workers' pension fund, PMI, has tendered two US indexed mandates, jointly worth around EUR2bn.

EUROPE - Alan Pickering has been elected chairman of the European Federation for Retirement Provision (EFRP), the umbrella group for European national pension associations.

GLOBAL - JP Morgan Investor Services has launched the Trade Settlement Tracking and Relative Ranking System (JPMorgan TradeS.T.A.R.R.).

CHILE - The much hailed Chilean pensions model is exportable, but only if country-specifics are taken into account, according to Pedro Corona Bozzo, president of the International Federation of Pension Fund Administrators (FIAP).