Europe

Marlborough's European manager David Walton highlights the niche German companies which can buck the growth slowdown in Europe - as well as the mid-caps that could speed ahead.

Liontrust Asset Management has hired James Beddall from F&C Investments as co-head of international sales.

Polar Capital has hired Nick Davis from Threadneedle to launch a new European equity income franchise later this year.

Michael Clements and Claire Manson are to take over management of the Oyster range of European equity funds after being hired by Swiss group Syz & Co.

Taking 2013 as a whole, emerging markets fell by 4.4% at a time when the MSCI Frontier Markets index rose by an impressive 23.6% (in sterling, net total return).

Fund management groups are tightening rules around investing in Russia, in some cases discouraging portfolio managers from adding to positions.

Bond managers have said the European Central Bank's move to cut rates and start buying asset-backed securities in Europe means it is now unlikely to implement a mainstream QE programme.

Markets across the globe were mixed overnight as investors reacted to a series of stimulus measures introduced in Europe to stave off the downturn.

The European Central Bank has cut its headline interest rate by ten basis points to 0.05%, prompting the euro to slump against the dollar, and said it will begin a long-awaited asset purchase programme in the coming months.

Inflation is Europe has become worryingly low, and the situation is reminiscent of Japan in the 1990s. Rathbones' Mona Shah explores whether the ECB's actions will be enough to prevent a downward spiral.