News

BRAZIL - Brazil is on track to achieve "full investment grade" status within 18 months, which according to HSBC, could potentially offer institutional investors access to a large number of fixed interest instruments.

STAFF at Standard Life picketed the firm's annual general meeting over changes to their final salary pension scheme.

NETHERLANDS - Aegon has started negotiations with Poland's BRE Bank SA on a possible merger of their two Polish pension funds and the eventual acquisition by Aegon of the combined fund.

BNP PARIBAS is set to rebrand all its asset management businesses under the umbrella name of BNP Paribas Investment Partners this summer.

SCOTTISH WIDOWS INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP has reported "significant growth" in its UK institutional business - announcing gross new business of £1.3bn in 2006.

UK - State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) lost a £27.5m (US$55.4m) equity mandate in the shake up that saw Barings scoop £23m from United Norwest Co-operatives Employees' Pension Fund.

LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP has launched a retirement planning product range in a bid to build a strong UK presence.

AUSTRALIA - Superannuation investments worth AUS$1trn which have traditionally been held by people in work, will shift dramatically over the next 30 years to those in retirement, according to new research by Russell Investment Group.

THE £28BN Universities Superannuation Scheme is set to double its £50m property mandate with Fpop.

US - The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) is reportedly set to fall US$19.6bn short of its funding liabilities over the next 30 years, despite three good annual returns.