UK

Aberdeen has beaten off competition from Macquarie to acquire Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) from Lloyds Banking Group in a deal worth up to £650m.

Macro data was at the forefront of investors' minds this week, after a surprise drop in UK inflation sent the pound lower.

The Royal London group has agreed with funds advised by independent private equity firm Vitruvian Partners to support a management-led buyout of Royal London's offshore arm 360° and subsidiaries for an undisclosed sum.

Former Sarasin manager David Vickers has joined Russell Investments to run its flagship £1.2bn Multi-Asset Growth Strategy.

M&G's retail funds under management are up 24% year on year to £64.5bn at 30 September, driven primarily by strong inflows from European clients, with UK flows turning positive again in Q3.

Barclays' head of compliance Sir Hector Sants will not be returning to the banking group after taking three months' leave in October due to stress.

Charles Gregson, chairman of St. James's Place, is stepping down from his role at the end of the year to be replaced by Sarah Bates.

Bedlam Asset Management has begun liquidating its fund range and winding down its business on concerns that it may be about to lose the bulk of its assets.

Liontrust has reported a 326% increase in adjusted pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 September and reintroduced an interim dividend.

UBS Global Asset Management has closed its UBS Global Diversified fund as it continues to streamline its UK fund range.