MAM Funds is preparing to expand its product range with the addition of a UK smaller companies fund for Gervais Williams and a US equity fund for Nick Ford.

European markets were well into positive territory in afternoon trading, lifted by Spanish bailout talk, while in the US, Apple's latest iPhone sent its shares up to a new peak.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King has called the end of the recession in the UK and pointed to signs of growth returning to the economy.

Investec portfolio manager Max King explains why, with corporate earnings beginning to catch up to the market, the perfect time to buy equities is now, before monetary policy begins to tighten once more.

Kevin Addison has joined US fund of funds provider SEI as managing director of UK asset management distribution.

MAM Funds' Martin Gray is eyeing developed market government bonds with a view to reinvesting in the asset class, after taking profits over the summer.

Sebastian Lyon has put more money behind unloved mining equities in his £2.2bn Trojan fund, after a prolonged period of underperformance from the sector.

Standard Life Investments (SLI) has promoted Mikhail Zverev to the role of head of global equities.

Markets were subdued in afternoon trading as fears over China, coupled with instability in the Middle East, weighed on investor sentiment.

Thirty-year industry veteran Richard Pease is director of European equities at Henderson, sole manager of the £402m European Special Situations fund and co-manager of the £828m European Growth fund.