Microsoft has reported a quarterly net loss of $492m, its first in 26 years as a public company, but it and Google helped ease concerns over the resilience of the tech sector as sales rose despite overall.
The majority of global equity funds underperformed the market in the first half of 2012, with many managers wrong-footed by the US outperformance.
China's benchmark equity index has fallen to its lowest level for three and a half years, as investors continue to fret over the impact of the global slowdown.
J.P. Morgan Chase, the US banking giant based in New York, saw profits fall 3.1% overall in Q1, but still beat analysts' forecasts.
Newton has renamed its £1.1bn International Growth fund as former CIO Jeff Munroe takes over as manager.
Henderson's Chris Burvill has forecast global equities could rally by as much as 20% in 2012 if more positive economic data continues to be seen from major economies.
Most investors would be better off using index funds than active managers, but high quality corporates can still prosper in 2012, according to Terry Smith.
The IMA could be ready to launch its delayed fourth Managed sector in the coming months, following a pick-up in interest from fund groups.
Which markets fared best during a tumultuous year?