Equity markets

Asian central banks are expected to raise interest rates this week to combat the soaring price of oil.

Sales of Global Growth funds on Cofunds hit a record high in January as advisers turn to equities for income at the expense of bond funds.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management has launched the N-11 Equity Portfolio, a long-only fund investing in the securities of the ‘Next Eleven' countries.

Threadneedle's Cormac Weldon has revised upwards his forecast for US GDP growth this year, from 2.5% to 3%, on the back of an improved macro outlook for the region.

UK blue chips made a strong start on Tuesday despite weakness in the US overnight and a mixed performance in Asia.

The FTSE 100 rose 1% to 5,871.5 points by 1.45pm today, propelled by the mining sector.

The FTSE ignored large gains on Wall Street overnight, falling 0.35% to 5,748.45 in early trading.

Leigh Harrison and Simon Brazier, the co-heads of UK equities at Threadneedle, have turned positive on the UK stock market despite forecasting GDP growth less than consensus expectations.

America's largest stock markets reported very light trading volumes on Monday as a flurry of M&A did little to reassure investors of the strength of the global recovery.

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