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GERMANY - Capital International is to expand in Germany with the creation of a first office.

SWITZERLAND - René Schneider is to take up the position of chief investment officer for equities at Julius Baer Asset Management starting November 1.

GERMANY - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has entered into an agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers Deutsche Revision to acquire the firm's actuarial and opinion activities unit at a time when German pension schemes are looking to update their arrangements....

SWITZERLAND - The Federal Council of Switzerland is to lower the minimum interest rate from 3.25% to 2.25%, effective January 1, 2004.

SWITZERLAND - Zurich-headquartered Bank Leu is launching three new hedge fund of funds owing to investor demand for absolute return strategies.

SWITZERLAND - Zurich Financial Services Group has completed the sale of parts of its Dutch operations to SNS Reaal Groep for an undisclosed sum.

SWITZERLAND - Credit Suisse Asset Management Switzerland is to axe 40 jobs over the next twelve months in a bid to streamline its management and strengthen its position in the Swiss pension fund market.

SWITZERLAND - Swiss pension funds posted a median return of 4.5% during the first six months of 2003, buoyed by the first positive half-year results from equity markets since 1999.

SWITZERLAND - UBS's asset management division posted pre-tax profits of SwFrs89m (£40.3m) for the second quarter - a 24% increase from the same time last year.

SWITZERLAND - Man Group has appointed Jon Aisbitt and Chris Chambers to its board of directors.