The IMF is expected to cut its forecast for UK growth in 2012 by 0.3 percentage points this week, from 0.2% to -0.1%, as part of a series of downgrades.
Fund groups are preparing for a price war in the first quarter of next year as they overhaul their charging structures ahead of RDR.
Tom Dobell, manager of the £7.7bn M&G Recovery fund, expects an uptick in M&A activity to rejuvenate performance in 2013 after a "tough" three years for the fund.
UK growth may yet provide a positive surprise relative to developed market peers, according to analysts at Credit Suisse.
Businesses are predicting the UK economy has moved out of recession in the third quarter of 2012, with expectations from leading firms that GDP has grown by 0.5%.
Ratings agency Fitch has warned the UK's AAA credit rating is under increasing pressure because of growing government debt, which could hit 100% of GDP this year, and the continuing eurozone crisis.