Europe

UK - Huntswood Outsourcing has appointed Cliff Harrison as head of consulting and Andrew Wheeler as senior consultant.

UK - Standard Life Investments launched a global index linked bond fund aimed at providing ‘low risk and real returns'.

UK - Less than 10% of small employers believe the Pensions Bill will improve occupational provision, research from the Association of Consulting Actuaries shows.

UK - The department of trade and industry has rejected claims it has raided the British Coal Pension Schemes to fund a health compensation plan for employees.

UK - Scheme members who have had their pension benefits cut under "Bradstock-type" deals will not be in line for compensation announced by the government.

UK - Defined contribution scheme members need a "basic understanding of investment" to make suitable choices, Mercer Investment Consulting claims.

UK/NETHERLANDS - The e14bn Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Metalektro (PME) has hired PIMCO to run a e500m short-term bond mandate.

UK - Five industry experts have been shortlisted for this year's Pensions Management Institute council elections.

ITALY/UK - ABN AMRO Mellon has landed a e1bn mandate to custody the non-domestic assets for Banco Desio Investment Management subsidiaries and affiliates.

UK - Reward managers have the best paid jobs in the personnel profession with salaries around 12% higher than the average salary within the sector, new research shows.