News

The FTSE 100 has opened in the red, falling 0.23% or 13.67 points to 5,970.66 this morning as December's US non-farm payroll number, announced on Friday, came in well below forecasts.

Invesco Perpetual is launching an Asian equity income portfolio for head of Asian equities Stuart Parks and manager Tim Dickson later this quarter.

Old Mutual has broadened the parameters of Stephen Snowden's £780m Corporate Bond fund, allowing the manager to move duration to zero to mitigate interest rate risk.

Guinness Asset Management has added six funds to its UK retail range, including equity income and global thematic offerings.

Neptune's Ted Alexander has turned over almost 100% of his UK Equity fund since taking over the mandate three months ago.

The theme of this year will be consolidation, following on from a 2010 characterised by "unnatural" government intervention in markets, according to Guy Monson, CIO and managing partner of Sarasin.

North's John Husselbee has been increasing risk within his multi-manager portfolios by upping his exposure to Asian equities during the market sell-downs towards the end of last year.

Andrew Bell has reshaped 40% of multi-manager mandates in the £1.16bn Witan investment trust in a move towards a more active management style.

Neptune's head of US equities Felix Wintle has doubled the financials exposure in his £667m US Opportunities fund and is preparing to take his long-term underweight to the sector to neutral.

Three leading providers of unregulated collective investment schemes (UCIS) and a major IFA service provider firm are set to host a series of educational seminars for advisers later this month.