Investors can find some attractive opportunities in bond markets amid the turmoil, according to SWIP's Steven Logan, co-manager of the group's £1.3bn High Yield Bond fund.

Alex Ingham has left Aviva Investors to join Lazard Asset Management where he will launch a small-cap emerging markets fund for retail investors.

Sterling was weaker against other major currencies after the Bank of England cut its growth forecast for this year.

Period of slow growth in US and Europe draws parallels with Japan post 1990

Nationalised lender Northern Rock has seen losses narrow in the first six months of the year ahead of an expected return to profit in 2012.

Tom Walker, the manager of the Martin Currie £677m North American fund, said investors concerned about the US debt crisis should look to technology as one of the least exposed sectors to political risk.

Fund Management Group (FMG) has unveiled the Rising 6 fund, investing in Africa, Brazil, China, India, the Middle East and Russia for UK investors.

Liontrust's James Inglis-Jones has bought into Continental Europe in his £341m Income fund for the first time since taking it over from Jeremy Lang and William Pattisson in 2009.

US investors sheltering in cash as politicians grapple with the debt crisis are set to reinvest during a short-term correction they said could see equities sell off as much as 10%.

GAM has expanded its range with the launch of a UCITS III emerging market equities fund.