Equities

European debt crisis talks have fallen into disarray as the head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was charged with sexually assaulting a maid in a New York hotel.

The economies of the 17 countries in the single currency block grew 0.8% in the first three months of 2011, up from 0.3% in Q4, figures released today reveal.

ON NORTH AMERICA

ON EMERGING MARKETS

Market and economy seen as more distinct following the recent disaster

Manager adopts three-pronged strategy including focus on contrarian bets in EM Europe

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has warned of a Lehman-style meltdown if the US Congress uses the national debt limit as a "bargaining chip", the BBC reports.

Markets across Europe fell at the start of trading as an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale hit Spain and commodities were heavily sold off in the US.

Schroders has unveiled an ISF Euro Credit Duration Hedged fund for head of UK and European credit strategies Adam Cordery.

Schroders' head of US large-cap equities Jonathan Armitage is leaving the firm after almost two decades to return to Australia.