Europe

UK - Almost half of FTSE100 directors are either still members of open defined benefit schemes or retain benefits under closed schemes, according to research by Incomes Data Services.

UK - Scheme trustees must ensure their scheme does not slip down the priority order of creditors after company debt repayments doubled year on year, consultants warn.

EUROPE - Standard Life Investments has appointed Séverine Laffineur as European portfolio manager in its Paris office.

EUROPE - Pension funds and other institutional investors increased their fixed income allocation to their highest levels in five years while simultaneously paring down their equity exposure, research by Invesco shows.

EUROPE - The European Commission has appointed Aon Hewitt as expert adviser for the possible establishment of a pan-European pension fund for researchers.

EUROPE - European banks and finance officials are discussing a proposal to replace existing Greek debt with a different type of bond to get around ratings agencies' reservations about a planned rollover, Reuters reports.

UK - Aegon Asset Management‘s head of property investment Phil Clark has been named chairman of the Investment Property Forum.

UK - Government has launched an urgent review of equity investments after business secretary Vince Cable warned short-termism was risking the financial security of pension scheme members.

UK - Threadneedle has appointed Camilla Crowe as head of consultant relations.

UK - Inalytics has launched a new service which allows pension funds to analyse the performance of fiduciary managers and the advice they give to clients.