UK

CONTRARIAN

Primary Health Properties (PHP) has become the first UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to launch a retail bond.

Trade body's recommendations to explain charges more fully are unlikely to be adopted across the board.

The reputation of the UK banking sector hit a new low last week after the FSA hit Barclays with its largest ever fine of £59.5m for breaching LIBOR regulations.

The UK is increasingly likely to lose its AAA credit rating - but this may not spell disaster for the domestic bond market, according to M&G's Jim Leaviss.

The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter, the final official reading has confirmed.

US v EUROPE

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said the UK must keep open the option of joining the euro if the current crisis is resolved.

Simon Ellis, managing director at Legal & General Investments, explains why investors are wrong to view index funds purely as capital growth plays.

JO Hambro Capital Management is to launch a Global Opportunities fund as its UK Opportunities fund, run by the same managers, fast approaches its £1bn capacity limit.