UK

Baillie Gifford's James Anderson has bought into the Italian stock market for the first time in years, claiming Italy is in a better financial position than the UK.

A paper being reviewed by the House of Lords has launched an attack on the Investment Management Association, saying it is ill-equipped to decide on sector classifications, and the job should fall to a more impartial body.

Leading UK think-tank NIESR has warned rising unemployment, which could hit 9% by the end of the year, will do permanent damage to the UK's productive capacity.

The UK will come out of recession in the second half of the year, bouncing back from negative growth in the first two quarters.

Schroders' head of UK equities Richard Buxton said the UK's much-feared double-dip recession is ‘irrelevant' and not cause for panic.

A strong pound could damage both the economy and portfolios as sterling hits new highs and the UK enters a technical recession for the second time in three years.

UK ECONOMY

Tineke Frikkee, portfolio manager of the Newton Higher Income fund, explains why the debate between UK and global equity income is past its sell by date.

UK RECESSION

The UK is officially back in recession as preliminary figures show the economy contracted 0.2% in Q1.