Lloyds

OPM Fund Management has invested in a reverse convertible product covering three UK banks in the view their share prices are unlikely to significantly fall over the next year.

The image of the banking sector may be taking a battering at the moment, but it has not stopped new players entering the market

The manager of the Dalton Strategic Partnership MST European fund is adding an extra 20% market exposure after noting a fall in volatility to pre-Lehman Brothers levels.

Fidelity Asian Values has introduced gearing for the first time since September. The £120m trust has drawn down $9m of a $15m loan facility it arranged ING Bank in February.

ON UK INCOME

Premier's Alex Ross is bullish on the outlook for the central London office rental market predicating demand will outstrip supply

US financial groups face high investor expectations for strong earnings growth in their first-quarter results in spite of subdued markets for equity trading and investment banking in the first three months of 2010.

Bankers are pressing the UK Financial Investments to consider a convertible bond for Government held stakes in Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland ahead of next month's election.

Chris Bowie has moved a third of the £290m Ignis Corporate Bond into defensive fixed income instruments on renewed concerns for the domestic and global economy.

Shares in Gartmore fell almost 4% on Monday amid continuing speculation about links between star fund manager Roger Guy and a broker caught up in a FSA investigation into insider trading.