Is the role of pensions companies starting to change? At least two recent examples from Denmark are pointing in this direction. They suggest that pensions companies will no longer automatically settle for just performing the traditional duties of managing and investing their own pension assets, but are starting to challenge and move into the territory of asset managers.

Bankpension, the DKr11.8bn (e1.6bn) Danish pension fund, is considering making its first investment in hedge funds.

Market rallies led to Keva, Finland’s Local Government Pensions Institution, reporting an “exceptionally high return” for 2009.

Sustainable investment initiatives are becoming increasingly common within company business plans, according to surveys of Swedish and Norwegian companies.

Nordic pension funds are changing their investment strategies in favour of diversification as confidence returns to markets, according to nrpn’s latest investor survey.

PensionDanmark has joined the renewable energy fund set up by Danish pension company AP Pension. Why did you decide to invest in the fund?

Denmark’s DKr219bn (e29.4bn) pension and insurance company PFA could expand its asset management operations abroad, according to its chief executive officer Henrik Heideby.

Following the merger of Blackrock and Barclays Global Investors, Rune Sanbeck has been appointed head of the Nordics at Blackrock. Mr Sanbeck was previously head of the Nordics at BGI. Blackrock’s former Nordic chief Peter Leane has moved on to become head of platinum accounts for the firm’s largest clients. Peter Nielsen, who comes from a position within Blackrock’s Nordic team, has been appointed managing director of iShares in the Nordics.

Following an anti-climactic conclusion to the COP15 summit in Copenhagen, Denmark’s biggest pension fund is spearheading its own climate change effort. Nick Reeve investigates

As Norway’s global government pension fund blacklists tobacco producing company, more countries in the region are expected to follow suit. Caroline Liinanki investigates

Several major players in the Finnish pensions industry are increasing their exposure to emerging markets – some quite aggressively. Hjalmar Tjan finds out more

The default manager of Sweden’s premium pensions system responds to government legislation protecting older savers, writes Nick Reeve

While exposure to fixed income, hedge funds and cash will remain unchanged, Nordic pension funds share a bout of renewed optimism, writes Nick Reeve

PFA group CEO Henrik Heideby tells Spencer Anderson why the risk-averse Danish pensions insurance company would have had more impressive returns had it been less cautious

After one of the country’s worst performances in 2008, Denmark’s Bankpension is sticking to its long-term strategy, writes Caroline Liinanki

After suffering relatively moderate damage in the crisis, SPP adheres to Storebrand’s cautious approach and posts gains, writes Hjalmar Tjan

Jan Eggertsen at T. Rowe Price tells Caroline Liinanki about misconceptions of the Nordic region and why he thinks foreign asset managers are falling short in their efforts to establish a presence

Sweden’s national buffer fund system is under the microscope as the AP funds draw more fire, writes Caroline Liinanki. This time it concerns the number of funds

Commodity-linked equities have a complicated relationship with commodity prices, and offer a different kind of access, writes Spencer Anderson

Maaike Veen finds out why Nordic pension funds should ‘focus on the constant risk in relation to their liabilities’ and use dynamic allocation strategies

Caroline Liinanki analyses findings from the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global’s active management review

With more room for manoeuvre now that markets have started to recover, Richard Tyszkiewicz investigates how pension funds are using their new-found freedom

Richard Urwin, managing director of BlackRock’s Multi-Asset Solutions group, and Rune Sanbeck, head of the Nordic region at BlackRock, discuss the outlook for 2010

The growing economic strength of developing nations has tilted the balance of world financial power and given rise to a new class of consumers in Asia and Latin America. When facing the challenges of a changing world, Claudia Reim asks how can investors identify the companies and regions that can sustain an advantage over the long term?

Maik Rodewald finds out why German investors are turning away from traditional long-only mandates