During fertile times for equities, dividends tend to be largely ignored by investors. However, their importance to the long-term total returns of stocks is something that should not be overlooked, especially in such a precarious market

Over the past few weeks, France, Germany and Japan reported GDP growth for the second quarter, which appears to indicate that they are now emerging out of recession.

The commodities sector has endured quite a remarkable period since November last year, with demand for commodities rebounding strongly.

The necessity for reflation in today's market is a given, but the perceived success or failure by global authorities to revive their economies is an altogether different question, and one that is having a profound effect on investors' attitude to asset...

Back to school. Back to work. Back to reality. Back to facing the first anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

There has been a sea change in the climate for investing in equities since the beginning of the year. In January, credit spreads were pricing in a ‘Second Great Depression', banks were bust on mark-to-market accounting and companies had shut factories...

In a post-RDR investment world, exposure to index funds looks likely to expand, increasing competition in this space

Just when you think the world is getting back to normal a year after Lehman's and then Terry Wogan announces he is packing up his radio programme after 27 years.

CF Ruffer European fund tops sector over three years with manager Timothy Youngman looking to build on past gains by increasing exposure to equities

In a volatile and ever-changing investment universe, timing is of the essence