News

SCHRODERS plans to make some of its quantitative equity products available to defined contribution schemes.

GLOBAL Payments UK has appointed Alexander Forbes Financial Services to provide it with employee benefits services.

THE Local Government Association has called for an inquiry into credit rating agencies, after millions of pounds of council assets were frozen in Icelandic banks.

BULK annuity business flows are set to be below estimates in the fourth quarter, Paternoster says.

UK - Paternoster foresees a slowdown of business inflow during the last quarter of 2008 due to recent market turmoil, despite a new business increase of 23% in the third quarter.

NEW ZEALAND - The National party has said it would invest 'at least' 40% of the KiwiSaver superannuation scheme's assets in the domestic market, in order to spur home economic growth.

AUSTRALIA - Pensioners are set to receive a one-off payment, as part of the government's strategy to stimulate the economy.

CANADA/UK - The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has established an office in London, in a quest to accelerate its expansion into private market investments and to pursue a global presence.

ITALY - Italian economy minister Giulio Tremonti has called for a ban on hedge funds, defining such funds as "insane".

AUSTRALIA - Superannuation accounts and assets are still being lost despite the efforts of the Australian Tax Office (ATO), according to new figures.