Japan

FINANCIALS

Emerging markets have had a rough time recently. Over the past two and a half years, their economic performance has stayed behind that of developed markets.

Nikko Asset Management is separating out its chairman and CEO roles, and has appointed ex-Nomura executive Takumi Shibata as director and chairman ahead of a planned IPO.

Andrew Graham, manager of the Martin Currie Pacific trust, argues the trend for earnings downgrades must reverse before stock markets can go higher.

GLOBAL

Japanese equities have started to regain some of the ground lost since the end of last week after the Nikkei rose 1.2% in Tuesday's trading.

Japanese investors are still net sellers of foreign bonds despite Shinzo Abe's policy of aggressive fiscal stimulus, with the situation unlikely to change until inflation starts to climb, M&G's Mike Riddell has said.

Japanese shares have clawed back some of their losses after falling more than 7% yesterday in a dramatic trading session.

A spike in Japanese government bond volatility has raised concerns that the unintended consequences of new policy measures could further derail the equity market rally.

The FTSE 100's long-running rally has been brought to a dramatic close this morning, with the index shedding 133 points in early trading as fears over an end to the US quantitative easing programme spook investors.