Equities

Moody's has downgraded Spain's credit rating by three notches to Baa3 from A3, just above junk status, and placed it on review for further possible downgrades.

EUROPE

Investment boutique Polar Capital reported a growth in profits for the year after attracting over $1bn of net inflows, despite caution over the eurozone debt crisis.

When it launched in 1988, the Ecclesiastical Amity UK fund was one of very few vehicles on offer for investors who wanted to invest according to ethical criteria.

Standard Life Investments' UK income manager Karen Robertson has been boosting exposure to lower yielding sectors of the market, in the expectation they will provide faster rates of dividend growth.

ON UK GROWTH

ON EMs

Barclays' chief executive officer, Bob Diamond, described the underpinnings of the European economy as ‘very very strong' and said he is confident the euro region will survive.

CHINA

Threadneedle's Simon Haines is increasing positions in mid-cap ‘self-help' firms in the view they are best positioned to prosper in volatile markets.