The first quarter of this year should see strong growth following the shock 0.5% UK GDP fall in the fourth quarter of 2010, says Rupert Watson, asset allocation strategist at Skandia Investment Group.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management has launched the N-11 Equity Portfolio, a long-only fund investing in the securities of the ‘Next Eleven' countries.

The first AAA-rated bonds issued by the eurozone's new bailout fund have been snapped up by Asian and Middle East investors in a €5bn (£4.3bn) auction.

London's leading share index rose this morning, recovering from yesterday's fall following news the UK economy contracted by 0.5% in the fourth quarter of last year.

Inflows into emerging markets could see a short-term pause as investors consider the impact of inflation in China and other macro issues, says Schroders' CIO Alan Brown.

Further quantitative easing, low short-term interest rates and rising inflation will be key themes for the year ahead, says Patrick Armstrong at Distinction Asset Management.

Developing economies will drive the global upturn, despite fears of a hard landing in China and other emerging markets last year, says Michael Hasenstab at Franklin Templeton.

US investment firm Brown Advisory has added a sterling hedged share class to its American fund, removing potential currency risk for UK investors.

Skandia Investment Group (SIG) has launched a local currency emerging market debt fund in order to benefit from the long-term prospects for the asset class.

Neptune's Rob Burnett has moved from an underweight to a neutral position on banks for the first time since 2009 on his £1.12bn European Opportunities fund in the belief a solution to the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis is "imminent".