Blacksquare Capital is launching a fund of absolute return funds in the New Year.

Threadneedle's head of commodities David Donora is bullish on both the short and long-term outlook for commodities, though he believes the medium-term picture is uncertain.

Swip's Gerry Ferguson has started to use cash reserves, purchasing a £260m property portfolio from Aviva Investors.

The IMA has created a centralised repository for Fund Processing Passports (FPP) which will allow distributors and institutional investors to access the information they need to buy and sell fund units without having to contact the fund manager.

Old Broad Street Research has awarded four funds a new A rating.

A sharp 1% rise for the Dow Jones in early trading has extended gains for the FTSE 100 this afternoon, as fears over Dubai debt exposures continued to wane.

Aberdeen Asset Management reported a drop in pre-tax profits for the year to the end of September of 82% to £10.5m, down from £60.5m the previous year.

Gartmore's Roger Guy and Guillaume Rambourg are positive on the medium term outlook for European equities, identifying cyclicals as one of the key beneficiaries of any rise in markets.

Discretionary boutique Cheviot Asset Management is set to launch a new multi-asset climate change fund.

Robin Hepworth has positioned his Ecclesiastical Higher Income fund firmly into defensive names on the expectation the UK is heading for a double dip recession.