UK

Fitch Ratings, the US fund rating service, is to launch a fund rating service covering UK funds as part of a new offering aimed at professional investors.

Recent events in the US have caused another headlong surge into UK gilts for their supposed safe haven status, driving yields down to fresh lows.

Threadneedle's Philip Dicken says a bleak European outlook is is cause for caution, but not excessive negativity.

River & Mercantile's Hugh Sergeant said negative investor sentiment is pushing up equity risk premiums to credit crunch levels despite strong balance sheets among UK companies.

Yields on 10-year UK government bonds dipped below those of US treasuries for the first time in two years today as financial markets began to price in a US default.

Cazenove Capital has confirmed it is merging its £69m UK Dynamic fund into its £62m UK Opportunities fund, both run by Julie Dean, next month.

Swip has handed a £267m UK equity mandate to LGIM's head of active equities Robert Churchlow.

HMRC is facing accusations it cannot cope with the new 50p rate of income tax.

UK managers have been ramping up their mining exposure, pointing to demand in emerging markets which could lift the sector's share prices even if the West experiences a double-dip recession.

THE LEADER