Europe

SPECIAL REPORT

Alliance Trust snapped up a £35m stake in European equities at the end of September to take advantage of ‘compelling valuations' across the continent.

ML Capital Asset Management has released its quarterly report on the alternatives sector, revealing a spike in interest in global emerging markets and Latin America, as well as a doubling of demand for European long/short products.

The European Parliament has voted against a ban on commission payments in Europe in a move placing it at odds with the FSA's stance under the incoming Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

US SPECIAL

Schroders' Nick Kirrage, co-manager of the £1.1bn Income fund, looks beyond the headlines in troubled Europe and finds some surprises in the region's hard numbers.

Schroders has begun marketing its soft-closed European Alpha Plus fund, managed by Leon Howard-Spink (pictured), as client demand for European equities begins to pick up.

Newton's James Harries has urged investors to hold back before redeploying cash into Europe.

Over the last three months, UK bank shares have enjoyed a strong rally, helped by the ECB's and US Federal Reserve's liquidity moves.

Analysts have suggested the rest of October will be a 'make or break' period for US equity markets as companies continue to report their Q3 earnings.