News

UK pharmaceuticals rose in early trading after speculation mounted President Barrack Obama's healthcare reforms could be thwarted by the Republicans.

Former head of Fidelity FundsNetwork David Dalton-Brown has joined Barclays Wealth to lead its funds division.

Barclays may be forced to dispose of its 50% stake in BlackRock to fund a £17bn shortfall in capital under proposed new global rules for the banks, the Telegraph reports.

Legal & General Investment Management and Neptune have criticised Cadbury management over Kraft's agreed takeover bid, saying the 850p per share deal undervalues the confectioner.

Greece is "about to dive into a Great Depression", according to emerging markets specialists at GLG Partners.

Valuing emerging markets relative to G10 counterparts has fundamentally and permanently changed according to GLG Partners.

Assets at Cazenove Capital Management rose by 27% last year, aided by large inflows to its Absolute UK Dynamic fund in September.

Swiss Re has sold part of its US life insurance business to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway for 1.3bn Swiss francs (£778m).

UK inflation rose at the fastest annual pace for three quarters in December, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Fund managers have backed Cadbury's decision to accept Kraft's new increased bid for the confectioner.