Paul Burgin looks at why market conditions require more exotic structured products to maintain protection and pay-offs.

Although our investment decisions are based solely on stock-specific valuations rather than any top-down view, it is hard to ignore the signs the global economy is improving.

The rally in equities, credit and commodities from March last year neatly fits the pattern of the market discounting an economic recovery six months ahead of the turn in the (backward-looking) data.

Six months ago, interest in Japanese stocks was at a very low level.

Standard & Poor's Peter Jones looks at the difficulties of valuing asset-backed securities.

Equities easily surpassed consensus expectations in 2009 with the S&P 500 up some 67% from its March lows.

Kristof Bulkai and Hugo Rogers of Thames River Capital on why investment in water is set to rise significantly.

GLG managers Pearson and Burton evaluate consensus in perilous areas to stay ahead of the competition

Henry Dixon, fund manager at Matterley, looks at whether the real estate sector is displaying value.

We see 2010 as a year when market leadership changes. Concern about such a view is it feels consensual.