Germany

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

British pride has taken a knock recently as both Germany and France this month reported their economies had expanded for the second consecutive quarter. Britain is pinning its hopes on the Q4 of 2009 bringing an end to its recession.

Barings' Robert Smith says its no surprise his German Growth fund has outperformed the majority of UK portfolios over the past year, as Europe's largest economy is in "far superior shape".

Take a moment, investors, to mark the fall 20 years ago of the Berlin Wall - a visible, tangible end to an era, delivered in a few short episodes of confusing, inspiring, gut-wrenching events. The so-called experts fell silent, while the masses gained...

National pride was dented when Germany and France posted positive economic growth in the second quarter yet the UK remained in recession. Since then the UK has suffered the ignominy of seeing expectations for the third quarter outturn scaled back as industrial...

What are the objectives of the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December this year, and what would failure to meet these objectives mean?

The US dollar has fallen to a one-year low against the euro ahead of the G20 and Federal Reserve meetings.

There has been a sea change in the climate for investing in equities since the beginning of the year. In January, credit spreads were pricing in a ‘Second Great Depression', banks were bust on mark-to-market accounting and companies had shut factories...

Having recorded further heavy losses in early 2009 to reach a low point in March, share prices have rebounded strongly in recent months.

Diverse sector at the forefront of downturn over past year, with just eight funds producing positive returns to investors