News

GLOBAL - Investor confidence has dropped 3.3 points to 100.9 in January from 104.2, State Street research shows.

NETHERLANDS/US: Dutch pension funds APG and PGGM have agreed to sell AlpInvest Partners to the Carlyle Group and AlpInvest's management for an undisclosed sum.

BlackRock saw outflows of $121bn (£76bn) in 2010 on the back of its acquisition of Barclays Global Investors, but managed to increase total assets by 6%.

US - The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an inquiry into public statements by Illinois officials about the state's underfunded pension fund, according to a report.

UK - Friends Provident's Trevor Matthews is to step down as chief executive and hand over the reins to former Scottish Widows chief Andy Briggs.

US - BlackRock saw outflows of $121bn in 2010 on the back of its acquisition of Barclays Global Investors, but managed to increase total assets by 6%.

US - The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System returned 14.3% on investments in the six months to December 31, increasing the fund's value by more than $4bn.

SWITZERLAND - Former Swiss Re chairman Peter Forstmoser has joined the board of Swiss Foundation for International Real Estate Investments (AFIAA).

GERMANY/UK - Germany has replaced the UK as the preferred location for investment in non-listed real estate funds, new research shows.

UK - Changes to defined benefit indexation have saved FTSE100 schemes more than £15bn($23.6bn), Towers Watson estimates.