Asia

Premier's David Hambidge is expecting the FTSE to break through a record high this year, following an unprecedented start to 2013.

ON JAPAN

Matthew Dobbs, manager of the £448m Schroder Asian Alpha Plus fund, argues the case for Asian equities, with five compelling reasons why investors need long-term exposure to the region.

Neptune's Doug Turnbull is holding his largest ever position in financials in anticipation of a rally for the sector, driven by looser monetary policy and reform.

Aberdeen Asset Management is to raise the initial charge on a number of emerging markets funds to 2% in order to stem inflows and avoid liquidity issues.

Schroders is preparing to add a sterling-hedged share class to its £797m Tokyo fund as investors become more concerned about downside risk to the yen.

Aberdeen Asset Management's multi-manager team is to seed specialist Asian equity house Coupland Cardiff's Japan Income & Growth fund when it launches tomorrow.

Legg Mason plans to unveil a sterling-hedged share class for its top-performing Japan Equity fund to protect investors from currency volatility, as the Bank of Japan (BoJ) unveils a fresh stimulus package.

Japanese markets have jumped almost 5% in the first three weeks of the year - almost unheard of for the region - in anticipation of a reversal of the decade and half long slump into deflation.

Economist and renowned commentator on Japan, Arcus Investment's Peter Tasker, said in the last 20 years the country has been through the most severe and prolonged bear market ever seen.