GDP

China is to hold its economic growth target at 8% in 2010 despite the global downturn.

This year began broadly as expected, with most believing that the losses of 2008 would take years to recover from.

There has rarely been a dull moment this year. A 20% fall in the UK equity market by early March has given way to close to a 50% bounce.

Hail Dorothy, the wicked witch is dead! In the classic movie, the Wizard of Oz, this is the ending of one era and entering of another.

Over the course of the year, the Japanese stock market has continued to rise from its March low point, helped by a general improvement in investors' risk appetite and the release of more positive economic data.

Stock markets across Asia have rebounded strongly in 2009, outperforming the developed world, and the prospects continue to look encouraging.

It has been over a year since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Credit spreads, which skyrocketed during the crisis and remained high early this year, have retracted somewhat.

Emerging markets offer potential for significant growth in the long term. A jewel in that crown, for the medium term, is Brazil, along with the rest of Latin America

New Star High Yield Bond manager says bottom-up approach clouds bigger picture

The past eight months have been remarkable for European equity markets.