The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned the UK economic recovery will remain fragile until the government places a greater emphasis on private sector growth.

F&C Investments' Julie Dent is set to retire from fund management on 30 September and will hand over the reins of the £490m British Assets investment trust to Phil Doel.

The Cautious Managed sector remains at the top of the leaderboard on the Cofunds platform, taking 32% of net sales in June.

Dalton Strategic Partnership has hard-closed its Melchior Selected Trust European Absolute Return fund at $600m, just a month after the vehicle was soft-closed at $500m.

Citigroup and Scotia Capital have predicted a 0.2% contraction in GDP growth for the second quarter, renewing fears of a double-dip recession in the UK.

Ecclesiastical's Robin Hepworth plans to avoid the UK consumer sector for the next three to five years unless the market falls by 20% this year.

J.P. Morgan's Jim Campbell, manager of the European Smaller Companies investment trust, has predicted shares across Europe will rise by at least 10% or more by the end of the year.

Group gives Gait and Paul freedom to invest up to 20% in stocks listed outside region.

Jupiter has made its first foray into the energy space with the launch of a global energy fund for the group's resources manager Derek Pound.

Threadneedle is preparing to take on the management of LV='s retail and institutional fund range.