UK equities

Burberry has been named the best stock to buy in 2012 by Kames Capital's head of UK equities, Stephen Adams.

Warnings on profits issued by UK firms saw the biggest leap in a decade in Q4 2011, driven by difficulties in the retail sector, according to Ernst & Young.

Tesco CEO Phil Clarke should decline his bonus to atone for approving a senior executive's share sale a week prior to its major profit warning, according to a leading investor in the company.

VALUE WILL BE BACK

UK equity managers who were overweight defensives at the start of the year - or earlier - had to be patient at first, but were rewarded at the start of July when cyclicals fell firmly out of favour.

Schroders' star stockpicker Richard Buxton has apologised to investors in a conference call after his fund plunged down the rankings this year.

Nigel Thomas, manager of the £2.8bn AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities fund, has said UK equities are cheap, but have little scope to rise in the current environment.

Last month equity funds in the IMA sectors saw their largest monthly outflow since October 2008, the peak of the financial crisis.

Schroders' Richard Buxton has defended his banking positions, saying troubled UK lenders could be returning 15% on equity by 2015.

EQUITIES