FTSE

The FTSE 100 has ended three straight days of losses to move 0.9% higher, returning to levels last seen at the end of May.

PRIVATE EQUITY

Global equities climbed overnight as poor growth figures from the US allayed fears the Federal Reserve will soon slam the brakes on its stimulus programme.

Structured products are rarely used on platforms in the UK but Jasper Thomas, investment funds manager at Aviva Pensions & Investments, says there are more reasons than ever for financial advisers to be considering them in a post-RDR world.

UK MID CAPS

London's leading equity index lost ground in afternoon trading, led by asset managers, as encouraging data from the services sector also failed to lift sentiment.

The FTSE 100 index has shrugged off the heavy falls seen at the end of last week to resume its upward trend in early trading this morning.

Anthony Cross and Julian Fosh have made rare additions to their Liontrust portfolios, and Standard Life Investments' Ed Legget has bought a raft of new stocks as the shape of the UK market begins to change.

ALTERNATIVES

Rathbones' head of multi-asset investments is hedging portfolios against a market fall as the US recovery looks set to bring an end to quantitative easing.