Artemis

Artemis' William Littlewood has reduced overall net equity exposure in his £700m Strategic Assets fund in the view rising shares are vulnerable to disappointment.

Artemis' Mark Niznik is continuing to eye a partial sale of his UK Smaller Companies fund's largest holding Vostok Energy, the unquoted Russian gas exploration company.

ON BONDS

Artemis Strategic Bond fund manager James Foster has increased his short position on gilts following Tuesday's stronger than expected UK growth figures.

UK dividends are rising for the first time since March 2009 as Artemis' Adrian Frost said dividend growth is back on the table.

DIVIDENDS

The Artemis Alpha and Gartmore Growth Opportunities investment trusts have reached an agreement to merge the two companies.

Adrian Frost and Adrian Gosden of Artemis are to run a new UK and global income fund for St. James's Place (SJP).

INTERVIEW

Aegon has named former ABN Amro AM chief and ex-Artemis director Sarah Russell as the new CEO of its asset management business.