Asia

TAIWAN - The Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) has appointed Russell Investments as transition manager in what is thought to be the first mandate win of its kind in the country.

JAPAN - The adoption of new benchmarks by some Japanese pension funds is set to boost their holdings of emerging markets shares, says Goldman Sachs Investment Research.

SOUTH KOREA - National Pension Service, South Korea's biggest investor, may set up a private equity fund with businesses including Samsung and Hyundai, to invest in overseas resource development.

JAPAN - The Government Pension Investment Fund should establish a board of directors and employ a chief executive and chief investment officer, a report by the OECD has concluded.

PHILIPPINES - Government Service Insurance System, the Philippines' largest state-owned pension fund, plans to review its $1bn overseas investment strategy by the first quarter, President and General Manager Robert Vergara said.

NETHERLANDS/ASIA - Dutch life insurance and pension company Aegon is to reorganise its loss-making operations in Asia to benefit more from high growth prospects in the region.

ASIA - Japan's Nikko Asset Management is strengthening its presence among institutional investors as it announced a deal to buy key parts of rival DBS Asset Management this morning.

JAPAN - Japanese finance minister Yoshihiko Noda said the government hasn't decided to maintain its 50% pension obligation next year after media reports said it has secured funds to meet the payouts.

JAPAN - The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the largest public pension fund in the world, returned 1.53% on its investments in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

ASIA - Threadneedle has appointed Raymundo Yu to the newly created position of Asia Pacific chairman.