The Norwegian Government Petroleum Fund has announced results of 9.3% for 1998 measured against a basket of European countries, 0.2% high-er than the benchmark portfolio de-fined by the Norwegian ministry of finance. The return on the equity portfolio for the year as a whole was 12.9%, although bond performance was significantly weaker. Norges Bank is also inviting external managers to tender for tactical asset allocation mandates of a minimum $200m (E183m).