News

Gilt yields hit a new record low by mid-afternoon as investors continued to buy up UK debt amid concerns the European Union has not done enough to avert a financial meltdown.

The UK's leading share index shed almost 100 points on Monday, with shares across Europe and the US also plunging, as investors fretted over the outlook for Europe once again.

Asset managers have accused platforms of harming investor interests because they are unable to support tax efficient property funds, which were given a welcome boost in last week's Finance Bill.

JOHCM GEM Opportunities manager James Syme said Vladimir Putin's decision to run for the Russian presidency in 2012 has already proved negative for investors in the country.

DEBT CRISIS BLOG

The Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) has called for the FSA to be accountable over its intervention into the traded life settlement investment market, which the trade body said has caused "real consumer detriment".

Legg Mason Asset Management has unveiled its $34m Brandywine Global Opportunistic Fixed Income fund to the UK market.

The FTSE 100 sold-off in early trading as optimism over the EU's latest deal to tackle the crisis faded and investors dumped risk assets.

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin's alleged affair had no impact on the downfall of the bank, the Financial Services Authority has decided.

Fidelity's Anthony Bolton is expecting a slowdown in inflation to boost equity markets in China next year, following a sell-off which has hurt performance in 2011.