S&P

Standard & Poor's downgrade of Ireland's credit rating was "inevitable", and other ratings agencies are likely to follow suit, says Schroders.

NORTH AMERICA

SECTOR WATCH

S&P's Linda-Jane Coffin looks at which funds have consistently achieved an AAA rating for five consecutive years or longer.

Conjecture

Europe - a great way to access emerging markets

S&P SECTOR WATCH: JAPAN

Last week both Moody's Investor Services and Fitch Ratings said the emergency Budget is supportive of the UK's AAA rating.

With the BP crisis and a slowing UK economy further compounding an already delicate situation, investors are nervous.

S&P SECTOR WATCH