S&P

ON NORTH AMERICA

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has downgraded Portugal for the second time, on the basis it may be unable to repay its debt, the Financial Times reports.

Moody's has downgraded Portugal's government debt two more notches because of 'subdued' growth prospects.

The second half of 2010 saw continued strong returns from global emerging markets.

In the latest Conjecture debate, our panelists from S&P, L&G Investments and Liontrust discussed Absolute Returns.

Portugal is set to receive a financial rescue package from the EU within a month, as the country's high borrowing costs are increasingly untenable, says Chris Iggo at AXA.

In interviews conducted just before and after the release of the Q4 GDP numbers, most UK growth managers were in line with the consensus view the UK economy is unlikely to slip back into full recession.

London's leading share index fell below 6,000 points in early morning trading, dragged down by a flat finish in US markets and continuing turmoil in Egypt.

In line with the global equities markets, 2010 was very forgiving for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with most managers believing the worst is over and now is the time to invest in the region.

S&P Fund Services' end of year review shows most European fixed income managers remain wary of peripheral bonds going into 2011