Man Group's shares rose nearly 3% this morning after it reported pre-tax profit of $154m for the six months to 30 September 2011, ahead of the amount it forecast earlier this summer.

Paul Spencer, manager of the Franklin UK Mid Cap fund, has initiated a holding in New Britain Palm Oil - the fund's first ever investment outside the FTSE 250.

Standard Life Investments' £8.7bn Global Absolute Return Strategies fund took profits in one of its major trades amid elevated market volatility over the summer.

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group have dropped by 5% after the company announced CEO Antonio Horta-Osorio was taking a temporary leave of absence.

NO QUICK FIX TO GREEK TRAGEDY

Jupiter has appointed Simon Somerville as manager of the £256m Jupiter Global Managed fund as CIO John Chatfeild-Roberts steps down from the role.

The FTSE Group has launched a consultation on whether it should raise its minimum free float requirement from 15% to 25%.

Troy Trojan fund manager Sebastian Lyon has expressed fears that the Bank of England has set down a path of continuous monetisation of government debt.

M&G's Richard Woolnough said he is uneasy at the way US banks have been able to book significant profits relating to the value of their debt in Q3 earnings figures.

Gabrielle Boyle has joined Troy Asset Management to work on its £59m Trojan Capital fund.