Markets

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".

UBS is reviewing the future of its underperforming UK Smaller Companies fund, managed by Frank Manduca (pictured).

JO Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM) has outlined plans to launch a global ex US small-cap equities strategy for new hire Robert Cresci.

Jupiter CEO Edward Bonham Carter has called into question the equity market rally, suggesting current moves do not yet signal the start of a new bull market.

Germany's GDP slumped by the most in four years in Q4 2012, with French, Italian and Japanese growth also contracting more than expected on the quarter.