News

US - Institutional investors paid 15% more in commissions to brokers for the trades of international stocks last year, as strong global equity markets attracted investor assets and generated new levels of trading activity.

US - Law firms Holzer Holzer & Fisteland LLC and Statman, Harris & Eyrich LLC have announced they are they are investigating allegations of violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by UBS AG.

Trevor Matthews has joined Friends Provident as its chief executive.

Pension fund solvency ratios have fallen during the first half of this year, research by Lehman Brothers reveals.

UK - Debate and action on saving defined benefit (DB) pensions can no longer be deferred, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The UK's three million defined benefit pensions are at greater risk of being wound-up early or bought out due to excessive regulation, industry experts warned today.

Hewitt Associates has promoted Yvan Legris to co-president of its consulting business.

The Investment Management Association has urged the government to consider the wider policy implications if pension liabilities are discounted using the risk free rate.

GLOBAL - Most equity markets showed losses in Q2 2008, with international equities outperforming US equities by 40 basis points, Mercer's latest Defined Contribution Universe Summary has revealed.

Capita Hartshead has been re-appointed as Experian's administration provider for the next five years.