SYDNEY, Jan 9--/AsiaNet/InfoQuest MERCER SURVEY... SINGAPORE: Investment managers expect that performance ofequities in 2006 will lag 2005 double-digit returns for majorglobal equity indices, with a particularly sharp decline in theoutlook for emerging markets, according to Mercer InvestmentConsulting's annual Fearless Forecast survey. THALASSEMIA TREATMENT DUBAI: Results from two new studies demonstrate thattreatment with the oral iron chelator Ferriprox(TM)(deferiprone) prevents iron-induced heart disease andsignificantly reduces the risk of early cardiac death inpatients who undergo regular blood transfusions to treatthalassemia, a genetic disease that affects the body's abilityto make red blood cells. THUNDERHEAD CONTRACTED... LONDON: Thunderhead, the leading provider of documentgeneration technology, Monday announced that ING Direct,Australia's first branchless bank, has selected the Thunderheadplatform to generate customer correspondence in Australia. AUTO PROTOTYPES... DETROIT: American Specialty Cars Incorporated Sundayunveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)in Detroit several vehicle prototypes with innovations designedto showcase the company's expertise in vehicle design, open-airsystems and performance materials, all focused on supportingASC's goal of helping its automaker clients put more excitingvehicles on the road, faster. ANATOMY EDUCATION... SALT LAKE CITY: Zygote Media Group, Inc., provider ofworld-class 3D biomedical models, images and animations, Fridayannounced a 30 percent discount on its 3D human anatomycollections for use at universities and other learninginstitutions through a new academic licensing program. PEPSICO EARNINGS... PURCHASE, N.Y.: PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) Friday announced that itsfourth-quarter 2005 earnings conference call and slidepresentation for financial analysts and investors will bewebcast live over the internet on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m.(ET). CVRD ISSUE... RIO DE JANEIRO: Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO)(CVRD) announced Friday that it issued US$1 billion of 10-yearnotes bearing a coupon of 6.250 per cent per year, payablesemi-annually, at a price of 99.97 per cent of the principalamount. EURAIL SALES... UTRECHT: Eurail Group has reported a worldwide increase of25.1 per cent from January through October 2005 with revenuesup 17.3 per cent. During that period, Eurail Pass purchasestotaled 343,961, and revenue totaled $141,406,284. (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agenciesdistributing unedited, translated news releases for worldwideclients. Visit www.asianetnews.net for full-text versions.)