Markets

Sir Mervyn King voted to increase quantitative easing by a further £25bn at February's Monetary Policy Committee meeting, latest minutes reveal.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management(JPMAM) has expanded its multi-asset fund range with the launch of a macro fund for James Elliot, who took over as head of the division in December.

Asian stocks have rallied for the third day in a row, led by Japanese shares, as regional indices touch highs last seen in 2011.

Saracen is to merge its Global Income & Growth fund with the SMT Saracen Global Equity Income fund.

Former Williams de Broë CEO Philip Howell is to join Rathbones as deputy chief executive as the group looks forward to 2013 with "more optimism".

Hedge fund giants are said to be preparing to short sterling after it fell to its lowest level against the dollar since July this week.

Prime Minister David Cameron has called on Royal Bank of Scotland to speed its return to the private sector amid speculation the government may give away its stake to the public.

Frontier markets are less volatile, more diversified and a better bet for dividends than their broader emerging market peers, according to HSBC's Andrew Brudenell.

ON UK GROWTH

A group of MPs has criticised government attempts to stimulate the economy, including quantitative easing, for being "expensive experiments".