The appearance of a high-profile activist investor on F&C's share register has added to the uncertainty surrounding BMO's acquisition of the asset manager.

Liontrust managers Anthony Cross and Julian Fosh have said the ‘dash for trash' that characterised UK equity markets last year may be coming to an end.

Sterling will continue to strengthen this year as investors continue to price in an earlier-than-expected rate rise, according to currency group ECU's head of trading and execution.

Japan's Nikkei has dropped another 2.5% overnight as equity markets move further into the red following a fresh tapering announcement from the US Federal Reserve.

Invesco Perpetual's Mark Barnett has said he will take an ‘unpredictable' approach to mitigating potential outflows when he takes over Neil Woodford's equity income funds in April.

UK GDP rose by 0.7% in Q4, according to an initial estimate from the Office for National Statistics, with growth for the year as a whole rising at its fastest rate since 2007.

Canada's Bank of Montreal (BMO) has agreed a deal to buy F&C for £708m in cash.

Invesco Perpetual's Mark Barnett is to become manager of the £1bn Edinburgh investment trust as of today, taking over from Neil Woodford ahead of the latter's forthcoming move to Oakley Capital.

F&C shares have jumped by more than 20% after the group said it has received a takeover approach from Canada's Bank of Montreal (BMO).

Threadneedle head of US equities Cormac Weldon and fellow team member Stephen Moore are to join Artemis to launch a US equities franchise.