Equities

Philip Saunders, portfolio manager of the the Investec Diversified Growth fund, has outlined four investment themes for investors to consider in 2014.

Royal Bank of Scotland has been fined $100m (£61m) by US regulators for violating US sanctions against Iran, Sudan, Burma, and Cuba.

Brian O'Neill, one of the country's longest-serving managers, is to retire from his role running the Henderson Global investment trust next year.

GLOBAL EQUITIES

EQUITY INCOME

City Financial has unveiled a Japan fund for manager Peter Nicholas and re-shuffled its Asian equities desk as it continues to expand.

Sanlam Private Investments (SPI) is launching a global equity fund as well as a fund providing investors with an alternative to cash as it moves to broaden its range of retail mandates.

HSBC is weighing up floating its UK arm, according to reports, ahead of new rules that demand banks ringfence their retail banking operations.

Bob Diamond, the former boss of Barclays who left in disgrace last year after the bank admitted its role in rigging Libor rates, is reportedly close to making a comeback with a new bank venture.

Ian Ormiston, manager of the Ignis European Smaller Companies fund, has benefited from the rally in European stocks this year and has revealed the top themes driving returns in his portfolio.