F&C

F&C intends to vote against Prudential's proposed acquisition of AIA amid increased investor opposition to the deal.

CONJECTURE

INVESTMENT TRUSTS

The Investors' Capital trust raised £6.5m last year, reporting a dividend yield of 6.7% against 3% from FTSE All Share Capped 5% Index.

This year could see a resurgence in the issuance of zero dividend preference shares (ZDPs) following the success of recent issues, F&C says.

The future of the eurozone now hangs on how markets react to the €110bn (£94bn) bailout of Greece, according to the director of UK equity strategy at F&C.

The Pacific Assets Trust has dropped F&C as its manager, handing the mandate to Angus Tulloch's First State Asia Pacific/Global Emerging Markets team.

F&C's Jeremy Tigue has moved his short-term borrowings from sterling into yen to benefit from an anticipated strengthening of the pound.

F&C's high profile acquisition of Thames River Capital has received mixed reactions from financial analysts, amid market noise Thames River was sold short.

Rob Burdett and Gary Potter will run the combined retail multi-manager business of Thames River and F&C, with Dean Cheeseman to head-up the institutional and Lifestyle range.