Equities

The managers of the top-performing Unicorn UK Income fund are selling down small- and mid-cap companies in favour of larger firms in a move away from its traditional hunting ground.

The Ruffer investment trust's protective assets have "earned their keep" so far this year, countering losses from its position in Japanese equities, the managers have said.

Barclays has said it intends to cut up to 12,000 jobs this year, including 7,000 in the UK, as it reveals it has upped its staff bonus pool despite a drop in profits.

UK EQUITIES

Barclays has been forced to issue confirmation of its pre-tax profits for 2013 a day ahead of its results after they were leaked in a diary column.

Impending US employment data expected to show a further improvement in the country's economy sparked gains for equity indices around the globe overnight.

BNY Mellon Global Fund has launched two new Japanese equity funds for its recently-hired Japanese equities team.

Global equity markets are on course for their worst start to the year since 2010 following the declines sparked by troubles in emerging markets over the last week.

The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) has jumped 25% since legislative changes lifting the ban on direct ISA investments were announced, research by Close Brothers has found.

The appearance of a high-profile activist investor on F&C's share register has added to the uncertainty surrounding BMO's acquisition of the asset manager.