UK equities

Hedge fund manager Man Group is to drop out of the FTSE 100 following the index's latest quarterly review after a fresh period of poor share price performance took its toll on the company.

The country's major banks are sitting on £40bn of undeclared losses that are stopping them lending to businesses and households, a report has claimed.

Mark Holden has lifted the £107m UK Focus fund out of the bottom quartile by concentrating the portfolio into just 21 stocks.

Liontrust has rebranded the three funds it brought from Walker Crips, run by Steve Bailey and Jan Luthman.

AXA IM has promoted Henry Lowson to become lead manager of its £54m AXA Framlington UK Smaller Companies fund.

AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities manager Nigel Thomas has highlighted a US manufacturing renaissance as one of the key themes in his portfolio this year.

Official figures showing UK corporates' share of GDP is at its lowest level since 1984 cast doubt on claims that UK plc will drive the economic recovery, Citigroup analysts have suggested.

A growing focus on short-term fund performance combined with shorter market cycles is prompting professional investors to protect themselves by raising cash positions.

Philip Rodrigs is to take over as manager of the Investec UK Alpha fund as the group expands the scope of his mandate.

James Henderson has managed Henderson Global Investors' UK Equity Income fund since 2005, taking on the mandate after a long spell at the asset manager.