News

F&C Investments has appointed Mark Nichols to take over the group's European Growth and Income fund following former manager Paras Anand's departure to Fidelity.

M&G Investments is set to launch a global equity fund for David Williams next month as part of an ongoing move to merge parent Prudential's retail offerings into its fund range.

A Greek government spokesman has said the country will leave the single currency if it fails to secure a second, €130bn bailout deal by March.

Developed economies will see $7.6trn worth of debt mature this year, with Italy towards the front of the refinancing queue at a time when its borrowing costs remain elevated.

Brazil became the world's sixth largest economy in 2011, overtaking the UK, after continuing to see breakneck growth while the UK economy stuttered.

Crispin Odey, the founder of Odey Asset Management, has said there are plenty of bargains to be had in 2012, after a "pretty horrible year" in 2011.

A group campaigning for a judicial review into the Arch cru investment funds scandal has had its initial request rejected by the High Court.

The FTSE 100 is trading 1% higher at 5,628 after closing 2011 down 5.5% for the year at the end of last week.

The eurozone could start to break apart this year with countries including Italy and Greece potentially exiting the single currency, a leading think-tank has warned.

US shareholders in Lloyds at the time of its takeover of HBOS have launched lawsuits against the bank, its former chairman, Sir Victor Blank, and ex-chief executive Eric Daniels.