Japan

Germany's GDP slumped by the most in four years in Q4 2012, with French, Italian and Japanese growth also contracting more than expected on the quarter.

Attempts by the world's seven major economies to calm the growing tensions over exchange rates triggered by the weakening yen have failed, as currency markets suffered a second day of volatility.

Japanese equities have led Asian markets higher as news of a nuclear test by North Korea failed to significantly dampen optimism after a three-day break.

The board of the top performing Atlantis Japan Growth trust - run by Ed Merner - has moved to fend off arbitrageur activity by implementing a discount control mechanism (DCM), capped at 10%.

Investec's Alastair Mundy has raised the cash weighting in his £2.3bn Cautious Managed fund to over 20% as he struggles to find buying opportunities in equities or bonds.

Bill Gross, manager of the world's largest bond fund, has compared the US economy to a supernova on the path to extinction as it has become too reliant on credit and real growth is being eroded.

Aberdeen Asset Management's multi-manager team is to seed specialist Asian equity house Coupland Cardiff's Japan Income & Growth fund when it launches tomorrow.

JO Hambro Capital Management's (JOHCM) Japan fund is heading towards soft-closure, following a wave of new inflows over the past twelve months.

European equities have their attractions but the continent's economic position will disappoint investors for years to come, according to Carmignac Gestion's Frédéric Leroux.

Legg Mason plans to unveil a sterling-hedged share class for its top-performing Japan Equity fund to protect investors from currency volatility, as the Bank of Japan (BoJ) unveils a fresh stimulus package.