Europe

UK - Introduction of flat rate tax relief could boost stakeholder provision by up to seven times, B&CE claims.

EUROPE - Julius Baer has launched a new bond fund under Luxembourg law - Euro Corporate Bond Fund - which invests in euro-denominated bonds issued by internationally active companies.

UK - Power firms will have to increase bills to cover their pension scheme deficits, utility watchdog Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) warns.

UK - Investec Asset Management has "exceeded" its expectations by winning nearly £1bn in mandates over the past year despite turbulent markets.

UK - Isis Asset Management has launched its first guide to ethical investing, in an attempt to demystify the process of investing in an ethical fund.

UK - Recruitment consultant for the financial services industry JWS Resources has appointed a senior consultant. Matthew Partington joins the firm for the financial services sales and mergers sectors after stints at MCA Consulting and S3 Group.

UK - A free web-based service listing all major surveys, research and reports relating to the pensions industry has been launched by information provider Pendragon.

UK - Aon Consulting is launching an unfunded benefits package to help executives avoid the Inland Revenue's £1.4m savings limit.

UK - Scheme managers are tackling common problems by swapping ideas through a web-based forum which bars consultants and fund managers and has rejected any government input.

UK - Far-reaching proposals to improve the governance of life insurance firms have been unveiled by the Financial Services Authority.