Cazenove

The popularity of risk-rated funds has surged as RDR approaches and investors search for greater certainty in tough markets, but research has revealed vehicles sitting within the same risk grade can perform very differently.

Global markets rallied at the end of last week as the Federal Reserve unleashed QE3, prompting some investors to call the start of the next major bull market in equities.

UK

George Soros and John Paulson are among the investors buying gold in anticipation of an uptick in price driven by more QE in developed economies this year.

Robin McDonald, co-head of the multi-manager range at Cazenove, has said investors should not hold out for further stimulus from the Federal Reserve as he believes it has ceased its policy to weaken the US dollar.

Equity markets around the world have struggled to make headway this year, with many major indices giving up gains made early on to leave them standing flat or down for 2012.

Cazenove's chief investment officer (CIO) Richard Jeffrey delivers his verdict on how the threat of financial market meltdown is being used by all and sundry across Europe to get their own way.

A number of fund providers are supporting the split of the Absolute Return sector into sub-categories based on strategy, which could see many vehicles in the Unclassified and Specialist sectors moved into the new groupings.

UK inflation will not be allowed to fall back to its 2% target because Mervyn King and his colleagues are keen to prevent a disinflationary spiral, according to leading fund managers.

GILTS