Mercer

INCLUDING: EUROPE - Mercer voices concerns on EU Directive on alternatives; FRANCE - FRR up 10.5% in the second quarter; SWITZERLAND - Funds cover ratio slightly better

AUSTRALIA - Australians could be better off in retirement if the superannuation industry adopts a whole-of-life investment outlook, according to Mercer.

Emma Cusworth examines how transition management has been impacted by the credit crunch and how the re-shaped industry aims to push forward

US - The funding status of S&P 1500 pension schemes dropped in July for the third month in a row on the back of falling AA corporate bond yields, Mercer said.

Consultancy firm Redington has appointed Jeremy Lee as a vice-president in its investment consulting team.

Emma Dunkley looks at the impact the economic crisis is having on employee benefits

New Zealand's KiwiSaver scheme has been in operation for over two years, but recent cuts to contribution rates have threatened to damage the scheme, as Rachel Alembakis reports

Despite having the second highest public debt in the world and taking a significant beating in the economic downturn, Japan's investment community is looking ahead to long-term investment, as Rachel Alembakis reports

With market returns low and DB deficits growing, trustees are turning to more aggressive investment strategies to plug the gap. Gill Wadsworth discusses the risks involved in this quest for alpha

Mercer Investment Consulting's European head of responsible investment Emma Hunt asks a panel of experts to consider the challenges facing socially responsible investing