Japan

ON ASSET ALLOCATION

CURRENCIES

ON S&P'S DOWNGRADE OF JAPAN

The insurance industry will play a pivotal role in helping Japan get back on its feet. Richard Dunbar, investment director - UK equities at SWIP, analyses the current state of the sector and what this disaster will mean for its future.

If bond markets are the only indices you look at to judge world events, you could be forgiven for thinking the past month or so has been fairly uneventful.

ON SPECIALIST MARKETS

IS THE US THE BEST PLACE TO INVEST?

Japan's government has downgraded its economy growth prospects in the wake of the devastation caused by last month's earthquake and tsunami.

The impact of the Japan earthquakes in causing short-term plant closures and supply chain disruptions has led Threadneedle to slash its forecast for the country's growth from 1.5% to 0.9% for 2011.

ON ASSET ALLOCATION