Europe

Darwin's David Jane, JPM's Nick Gartside, MAM's Martin Gray, and Andrew Cole of Barings look at the similarities and differences between today's market and economic backdrop and the crisis that followed the Lehman collapse in 2008.

French bank shares have dropped after ratings agency Moody's downgraded two institutions due to their exposure to the eurozone debt crisis.

China's premier, Wen Jiabao, said the country is ready to help Europe through its current debt crisis, but is calling for Europe to recognise China as a full market economy.

The Swiss central bank's decision to cap the franc has split investors, with Investec's currency head Thanos Papasavvas backing the move while Jim Rogers called it a "huge mistake" that could completely debase the currency.

Artemis' James Foster expects Greece will exit the eurozone within six months - and possibly as soon as December - with Europe forced to act because the Greeks are unwilling to tackle the crisis.

Last week's decision by the Swiss National Bank to cap its exchange rate to a minimum of CHF1.20 to the euro will not rescue the Swiss economy, said Jennifer McKeown, senior European economist at Capital Economics.

The OECD has urged global economies, particularly Europe, to take "credible steps" to curtail debt as it said the recovery has ground to a halt.

Kames Capital's bond managers Stephen Snowden and Phil Milburn have warned it is too early to start buying up cheap stock as we are only 75% of the way through the European sovereign debt crisis.

(Updated 2:30pm) Banks are continuing to take the brunt of the latest market sell-off as fresh fears of a European banking crisis emerged on Monday.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has launched an inflation-linked bond fund investing in European debt, as the group looks to profit from the volatile market conditions across the continent.