Equities

From where we sit at the half-way point of the year, it seems that to advocate an argument on whether the market is bullish or bearish is as finely balanced as it has been for a long time.

Thinking back to 20 years ago, there was a buzz of excitement in the investment world as investors seeking above-average returns ventured in a handful of exotic economies.

The perception is the European Central Bank has been an outstanding laggard in its policy responses, that it lacks a clear mandate, and has too many people (22) sitting on its governing board to be aggressive.

The Waxman-Markey bill, passed at the end of last month, sets out the basis for a new negotiating stance and will boost prospects for reaching an agreement in Copenhagen in December, without having to wait for US approval

Seismic changes in the way the US tax authorities intend to tax the returns on American senior-citizen-based life settlement funds have caught many fund managers on the hop

Positive macro data in Q4 could prompt another significant spell of outperformance in emerging markets, says Bryan Collings, manager of the Ignis International Hexam Global Emerging Markets fund.

BlackRock's Bob Doll believes the 8% correction in the US markets over the past four weeks is the result of profit taking and the bull market will resume, with stocks set to rally again by the end of the year.

Estonia should be a prime focus for emerging market investors for 2009, says Hadley Barrett, CEO of Oxford Sustainable Group.

After a strong performance from most equity markets since the lows of March 2009, it is reasonable to expect a degree of consolidation in the short term.

A move to riskier stocks earlier in the year has paid off for Threadneedle's Weldon