GDP

The British Chambers of Commerce has cut its forecast for UK GDP growth for 2012 and has called for the government to announce a modest fiscal stimulus should public sector borrowing come in under target for 2011/12.

Marlborough's Giles Hargreave has reversed his notoriously bearish stance on equity markets for the first time since 2008, telling investors now is the time to be fully invested.

US GDP for the fourth quarter of 2011 has been revised up from 2.8% to 3%, the latest piece of more positive economic data to emerge from the world's largest economy.

COMMODITIES

FUND MANAGER FOCUS

ON UK GROWTH

THE BIG QUESTION

The decline in the UK economy was confirmed this morning after the second estimate for Q4 UK GDP came in unchanged at 0.2%.

The European Commission has warned the eurozone will be back in recession this year despite "signs of stabilisation" on the continent.

ON ASIA