UK managers have been ramping up their mining exposure, pointing to demand in emerging markets which could lift the sector's share prices even if the West experiences a double-dip recession.

Commercial property may have regained some of the ground it lost since the Lehman Brothers collapse but it appears investor sentiment is cooling on the asset class.

The managers of the £80m Waverton UK fund have begun using call options after shunning the instruments during the rallying markets of 2009.

Newly-formed group Alquity Investment Management has launched an Africa fund for UK retail investors that sees 25% of management fees donated to support humanitarian projects in the region.

LV= Asset Management is launching a hedged share class for its European ex-UK Growth fund, to minimise currency risk for investors.

Aegon's Phil Milburn expects Irish banks to be able to refinance debt coming up for renewal next month, despite some predicting another testing time for the region.

The Federal Reserve is prepared to take "unconventional measures" to prop up the US economic recovery, said Ben Bernanke in a speech today.

Markets reacted positively to the news the US had not slowed to the 1.4% expected in the second quarter.

Blue chip stocks fell this morning on fears that data will show US economic growth slowed in the second quarter.

The US economy will continue to see challenges until unemployment improves, according to Cavendish's Tim Roberts, who says he still cannot rule out a double-dip recession.