Equities

BT provided an extra boost to a number of popular income portfolios today after its latest jump in profitability sent shares in the group to the top of the FTSE 100 leaderboard.

The start of 2013 has brought some new year cheer to equity investors, with the FTSE 100 set to record its best January for decades as stock markets around the globe continue to rise.

Assets under management in the UK funds industry reached a record £658bn in 2012 and, although fixed income dominated overall sales, equities ended the year as the best-selling asset class.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is to pay up to £250m in bonuses to its investment banking division, including to those implicated in the LIBOR-rigging scandal.

London's leading share index soared to its highest level since May 2008 in afternoon trading yesterday, breaking through the 6,300 barrier, as the New Year rally continues to gather pace.

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.

As risk appetite returns and investors begin to dip their toes back into European equity markets, S&P Capital IQ Equity Research has revealed its ten ‘power picks' for 2013 from the European stock universe.

Economist and renowned commentator on Japan, Arcus Investment's Peter Tasker, said in the last 20 years the country has been through the most severe and prolonged bear market ever seen.

Better than expected results at some of the UK's major retailers gave a lift to UK fund managers today as Xmas numbers beat gloomy forecasts.

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