Japan

JAPAN - As Japanese institutions squeeze at the margins for profits in a struggling market, commission rates continue to decline, though there are signs that may change, according to a recent study by Greenwich Associates.

UK/JAPAN - The Ethical Investment Research Service is to offer research on almost 400 Japanese companies after a link-up with a Japanese research company.

JAPAN - Non-portable corporate pensions have prevented an improvement in the allocation of labour in Japan, according to a country report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

UK/JAPAN - Schroders has strengthened its global credit team with three new appointments, bringing the total number to 15.

JAPAN - Standard & Poor's has launched the S&P Japan 500, a broadly representative index covering approximately 88% of the Japanese equity market, under an alliance with Toyo Keizai.

JAPAN - Schroder Investment Management believes that now is the worst time to give up on Japan.

JAPAN - Japanese equities will not recover their value unless the country carries out structural reform on the economy, Standard Life Investments UK claims.

JAPAN - August belonged to the Japan long/short managers.

JAPAN - Recovery in the Japanese stock market is dependent on its government taking steps to curb deflation, according to Britannic Asset Management.

US/JAPAN -The world's biggest pension fund CalPERS has earmarked US$200m for a new Japan fund at a time when opinion over the country's ailing economy is divided.