UK

CORPORATE BONDS

The UK economy has been tipped to breach its pre-crisis peak as early as next year, instead of 2016, as previously forecast, by UK business network the British Chambers of Commerce.

When Chancellor George Osborne stood up to deliver last week's Autumn Statement, there was little doubt he felt more bullish than in 2012.

HSBC is weighing up floating its UK arm, according to reports, ahead of new rules that demand banks ringfence their retail banking operations.

Non-residents will have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on residential property sales in the UK from April 2015, reversing the current rule, George Osborne announced today.

The Chancellor has cut the UK's borrowing levels substantially in the Autumn Statement, substantially revising down March's forecast.

The UK's surprise economic recovery looks on course to continue as Chancellor George Osborne raised his forecast for UK growth over the next few years.

UK EQUITIES

CONTRARIAN INVESTOR

It is still the main topic in town. We have had some wobbles in markets as investors have taken fright at the idea of fewer new dollars around.