Equities

Standard Life Investments has taken the unusual step of criticising Barclays during its AGM, attacking the bank over its latest remuneration proposals amid a fiery meeting.

Franklin Templeton's fixed income head Michael Hasenstab has said Japan's stimulus programme will help support the global recovery and offset tighter monetary policy from the US Federal Reserve.

Alan Custis and Alan Clifford have stuck with insurers amid early signs the sector is rebounding from the sharp falls sparked by Chancellor George Osborne's move to change the pensions landscape.

THE BIG QUESTION: PART II

EMERGING MARKET DEBT

EUROPE

GlaxoSmithKline, the UK's largest pharmaceutical group, and rival AstraZeneca, saw shares jump sharply - with the latter up 10% - as a series of deals in the sector boosted prices.

Neptune's Rob Burnett has been adding to peripheral European banks in anticipation of a share price bounce after this year's round of stress tests are completed.

ON JAPAN

Google shares moved sharply lower in after-hours trading following a disappointing update, with the negative sentiment that has blighted the sector showing no sign of abating.