Europe

Concerns about a sovereign credit crisis in peripheral Europe drove equity markets significantly lower in the past few weeks, although corporate earnings results overall showed a solid improvement.

There is momentum gathering behind the argument that Europe is the sick man of the World.

Aegon manager warns of possible knock-on effect from struggling European countries

We see 2010 as a year when market leadership changes. Concern about such a view is it feels consensual.

European equities is not the most popular asset class right now and Greece's very public debt problems are an indication of why.

The devil is always in the detail.

Henderson Horizon Pan European Alpha manager Paul Casson has initiated short positions in a basket of Spanish stocks on expectations of a Greek-style sell off.

Gartmore's John Bennett believes the long-haul recovery will favour technology and healthcare sectors alongside specific stocks able to deliver above average growth.

The sharp rally in European equity markets appears to have run ahead of the fragile economic recovery but there still seems to be scope for further setbacks.

Over the next few years we should see a sustained period of moderate global economic growth, albeit more subdued than previous economic recoveries.