Hungary

Hungary has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU) for financial aid as its debt pile grows and its currency weakens.

Resilience from emerging European markets during the financial crisis has prompted a re-evaluation of prospects within the region, writes Maria Merricks.

Those looking to maximise returns in the first half of the year should have parked their money in Eastern European equity markets such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, according to data from S&P's.

Fears Hungary will be the next European country to suffer a debt crisis are unfounded, and simply based on "political rhetoric", say Axa strategists Raphael Gallardo and Sebastian Paris-Horvitz.

Franklin Templeton's emerging markets specialist Mark Mobius says the global economy will avoid a double-dip recession.

Emerging markets equities experienced an extraordinary recovery in the second quarter of 2009.