Opinion

What are the attributes you look for in a fund manager or an asset management company? ‘Steady', ‘consistent', ‘predictable', ‘experienced', ‘disciplined', maybe even ‘boring' or ‘a few grey hairs' as well.

This year's Thanksgiving will have provided a welcome time out for politicians and markets across the Pond. It is also a time to reflect on the state of the nation as everything closes down for the day and people retreat to spend time with their families....

The government's recent consultation into VCTs and EISs has closed and we are about to learn of HMRC's proposed changes to the rules when they are announced around the time of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on 29 November.

It would make a change to write about something other than Europe, but with the world looking on at this dysfunctional continent, epitomised by having a German Pope and an Italian central banker, that is much easier said than done.

So suddenly no-one wants to lend to Germany for the next ten years - hardly surprising because by lending to Germany investors are effectively lending money to Greece, Portugal and even Italy.

EUROPE ON THE BRINK

FUND LABELS

ECONOMICS

My base case scenario for Europe remains the same, although my confidence in this has reduced.

Fidelity China Special Situations manager Anthony Bolton said the next 12 months should be a defining period for the country. In his view, investors will start to realise China is "not a house of cards that is going to collapse" and they will hopefully...