European Union

EUROPE - The European Central Bank lifted interest rates for the first time in almost three years in a bid to stem inflation.

EUROPE - Hedge fund guru George Soros has argued the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) must take control of Europe's banking system if it is to solve the sovereign debt crisis without causing another banking collapse.

Business briefing: Budget checklist; Discrimination on pensions justified; Top tips for setting up a salary sacrifice scheme

EUROPE - A warning late yesterday from France's Edhec Risk Institute about the dangers of banning naked short selling of sovereign debt using credit default swaps was in vain, as the European Parliament voted to push through such a veto.

The impact of the European Court of Justice decision on gender pricing of annuities will be insignificant compared to the effect of the "dysfunctional" Open Market Option system, an industry body warns.

A European Union ruling to equalise annuity rates for men and women could be finalised as soon as 1 March.

The austerity measures that swept through Europe in 2010 took their toll on pension systems. Richard Lowe reports

In 2011 the danger is the Euro system will put too much pressure on too many weaker countries and economies.

EUROPE - Strong returns on European long-term savings are being hampered by an expensive and "highly inefficient" pensions market, the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) said.

EUROPE - The European Commission will start a search for candidates to run three new regulators for the region's banking, securities and pension industries.