Following an apparently disappointing outcome in 2012, there is greater optimism over growth prospects for the UK and other economies in 2013.
Managers are setting up portfolios for a pull-back in equity markets, looking at put options and moving more defensive as several indicators post sell signals.
Schroders edged back into the top ten asset managers by fund sales in Q4 as investors showed renewed interest equities, the latest Pridham Report has revealed.
Nick Paler talks to Cazenove's Robin Minter-Kemp about the challenges and opportunities ahead as he discusses his plans for growing the business in 2013.
Jupiter's Merlin multi-manager team have shifted their UK equity allocation within the £1.7bn Merlin Growth portfolio in order to gain exposure to active managers looking across the FTSE 350 spectrum.
2012 was a mixed year for markets, with developed market equities recovering from a summer sell-off to make marginal gains, while some segments of the property and bond markets outperformed.
Fund managers have raised cash levels in their equity and bond portfolios to levels last seen at the height of the Lehmans crisis as valuations in risk assets hit extremes.