Niall Gallagher, the manager of the GAM Star Continental European Equity fund, has been buying businesses exposed to the recovery in the European periphery as he seeks to maintain his fund's impressive track record.

Former head of research at Premier Asset Management, Raj Hallen, has joined Albemarle Street Partners as a director and shareholder.

Majedie Asset Management has hired Fidelity's Adrian Brass as it prepares a push into the global and US equity space via three fund launches next month.

The FTSE 100 has soared to its highest level since early 2000, as mining and housing stocks boost the blue-chip index at the start of the week.

EFG Asset Management is set to launch an M&A tracker fund led by global chief investment officer Mozamil Afzal, together with head of equity research Robin Milway.

AXA Framlington UK equity manager Nigel Thomas has bought into the recent Poundland IPO in his UK Select Opportunities fund, expecting the store to benefit from the rise of the 'promiscuous shopper'.

Kames Capital's head of fixed income David Roberts has warned new instruments within the fixed income market could be wiped out - losing holders their entire investment - if markets turn south.

Old Mutual Global Investors has attracted the most retail inflows of all fund groups in the first quarter of the year, as investors flock to the group's UK star Richard Buxton.

Invesco Perpetual has launched a Global Distribution fund for co-heads of fixed interest Paul Causer and Paul Read (pictured).

Barclays plans to axe more jobs than it had previously announced, as part of the chief executive's ambitious cost-cutting plans.