Norway

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund Global returned -8.8% or -NOK284bn ($52bn) due to stumbling global stock markets, third quarter results show.

NORWAY - EDB ErgoGroup ASA has agreed to costs totalling some NOK9m ($1.7m) per year to settle a pension dispute with employee unions over its decision to transfer some staffers from a defined benefit to a defined contribution plan.

NORWAY - The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that Martin Skancke has resigned his position as head of the department overseeing the Government Pension Fund Global.

NORDICS - Nordic investors are continuing to show optimism in hedge funds with nearly a third planning to increase their exposure this year to strategies like global macro, event driven and long/short funds, a new report shows.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund Global was up 0.3% in the second quarter after rising bond prices helped to offset drops in the global equities markets.

CANADA/NORWAY - A consortium of investors including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has agreed to acquire a 24.1% stake in Norway's Gassled Joint Venture.

NORWAY - Norway's Government Pension Fund Global should reduce its weighting to Europe and will consider changes to its fixed income portfolio, finance minister Sigbjorn Johnsen said in a report to parliament today.

Norges Bank, New York City, HSBC, Lockheed Martin, RAM, SPAA

GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days.

NORWAY - The Government Pension Fund Global returned 9.6% in 2010, driven by widespread gains in global stock and bond markets.