As the year end looms, investor focus has turned to the outlook for 2010.

Government interference in capital markets has never been so great in the post-war era and the contradictions within asset values are becoming ever more apparent.

After the losses suffered in 2008, this year has proven something of a pick-up, with investors developing sharper defense mechanisms in the wake of the credit crisis. But what is providing the momentum driving investors into 2010?

It has been over a year since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Credit spreads, which skyrocketed during the crisis and remained high early this year, have retracted somewhat.

Even after nearly twenty years in the business, BlackRock's Mark Lyttleton still retains a fervent enthusiasm for beating the market which continues to drive stellar performance

I can take no credit for the following analogy - it is all the original work of one of the smartest sales and marketing directors in the asset management industry.

The consensus view for the UK's economic outlook in recent months has been that while the worst was over, progress would be slow and consumers were in line to struggle in 2010 burdened with high unemployment and rising taxes.

Pothier-managed HSBC fund is eighth out of 86 vehicles in peer group over three years

Emerging markets offer potential for significant growth in the long term. A jewel in that crown, for the medium term, is Brazil, along with the rest of Latin America

Corporate bonds have staged a remarkable recovery since the end of the first quarter this year.