Europe

Threadneedle's Frederic Jeanmaire is to take over management of the group's Pan European Focus fund as lead manager Dan Ison steps back to become deputy.

The feeble French economy is causing pain for Europe's leading industrials, explains Richard Scrope from Oriel Asset Management.

Inflows to European loans have never been stronger, but some investors have been deterred by loose credit standards and terms skewed in the issuer's favour. Lyxor Asset Management UK's Thierry de Vergnes investigates the pros and cons.

Europe's small caps have had a stonking five-year rally, but as prices have come off a little since May, investors need to start separating Norway from the Netherlands, explains Bill Barker from Pictet Asset Management.

EUROPE

BlackRock has scrapped the 1% initial charge for intermediaries investing in Alister Hibbert's European Dynamic fund after assets under management fell to a more manageable level.

Central banks' juggling act in trying to stimulate inflation but cool inflated asset prices is causing "schizophrenic" policy decisions in Europe. The trouble is, low inflation is necessary, argues Andrew Parry from Hermes.

Portugal's €5bn bail-out of Banco Espirito Santo is an idiosyncratic event and Europe is still home to some quality banks, explains Carmignac Gestion's Jean Medecin.

Standard Life Investments has recruited a manager from SWIP to run its European Smaller Companies fund, raising questions over whether Ignis' Ian Ormiston will make the move to SLI.

EUROPE