Japan

Shares across Europe are trading lower after Japan led Asian indices lower overnight, with the FTSE 100 on course for its third consecutive day of losses.

WEALTH MANAGERS

The FTSE 100 has opened up 0.4% on the final day of Q3 trading as Spain's 2013 budget measures helped ease concerns over the country's economy.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management's(JPMAM) Japanese fund manager David Mitchinson has quit the firm to pursue a new opportunity in the industry.

Investors attracted to Japanese government bonds (JGBs) should think twice before buying because of the risk of price deterioration in the coming years, warns the Stonehage Group.

The former chairman of Olympus has pleaded guilty to charges of falsifying accounts ahead of his trial.

China should attack the Japanese bond markets and cause a full-scale funding crisis, unless the latter nation reverses a decision to nationalise the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, a senior advisor to the Chinese government said.

The Japanese government is being forced to consider suspending state spending as it emerged it could run out of cash within a month.

CONTRARIAN

Asian stock markets echoed Wall Street's overnight slump as investors fretted over declining Japanese export figures.