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SWITZERLAND - Zurich Financial Services has cut its dividend following a severe knock to its profits after September 11.

SWITZERLAND - UBS will commence a share buyback program leading to the cancellation of shares.

UK/SWITZERLAND - Robin Geffen is leading the management buyout of Orbitex Financial's UK asset management operations, following the decision by the Swiss firm to exit the UK market.

GERMANY- Global money managers are bullish on Germany's pension prospects, estimating it will be a hundred billion dollar market in the next few years.

GERMANY - Institutional investors continue to remain upbeat about the state of the Germany economy, according to a German research centre.

SWITZERLAND - Christof Grossegger has taken over as head of public relations at alternative manager Man Investment Products.

GERMANY - Dresdner Bank lost EUR517m in the fourth quarter last year, according to its preliminary results for 2001. It said its cost savings were taking effect but loan loss provisions were increased.

SWEDEN/SWITZERLAND - Engineering giant ABB has ordered an investigation into whether two former chief executives were paid too much in pensions and benefits only hours before it announced a massive profit plunge for 2001.

SWITZERLAND - Insurance giant Swiss Life/Rentenanstalt has sealed a deal worth up to EUR200m to acquire Fortis France, the French arm of the Dutch bank.

GERMANY / EUROPE - Allianz has claimed that it has taken at least 20% of Germany's new "Riester" pensions market, with board member Helmut Perlet hailing it as a "good starting position" for the firm.