Japan

Global insurance company share prices tumbled last night as concerns mounted about the cost of rebuilding Japan following Friday's earthquake and the resulting tsunami.

The sell-off in Japanese markets following last week's devastating earthquake represents a buying opportunity, says veteran investor Jim Rogers.

The rapid rise in the price of crude is reviving fears of a double-dip recession, Chris Iggo at AXA Investment Managers says.

Nomura predicts the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan will cut between 0.5% and 1% off the country's GDP next quarter.

Fund managers warn Japan could take a short-term hit to GDP following last week's earthquake and tsunami, but they are less concerned about the longer-term impact on the country's fragile economic recovery.

ON ASSET ALLOCATION

Japan's stock market lost almost 7% after its first full day of trading following the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on Friday.

A major earthquake in Japan has rocked markets, which were already fragile yesterday as the FTSE 100 hit a five-week low.

GLG has hired Jeffery Atherton as co-manager for the £1.1bn Japan CoreAlpha and £490m Japan CoreAlpha Equity funds, to work with Stephen Harker and Neil Edwards.

Japan's credit rating has been cut to ‘negative' by Moody's on debt level concerns.