IFAs accessing ETFs via wrap platforms this year have followed the trend in the unit trust world with a preference for fixed income vehicles, according to iShares data.

Gartmore is being prepared for a stock market flotation which could take place before Christmas, The Times reports.

Large groups in pricing negotiations with Cofunds are likely to agree deals in the coming weeks after the platform ditched demands for improved terms on back-books of business for many of its ‘top 30' partners, Investment Week understands.

Investors should have increasing confidence in a UK economic recovery as the housing market shows strong signs of bottoming, Richard Woolnough believes.

Invesco Ltd, the parent company of Invesco Perpetual, will acquire Morgan Stanley's retail asset management business for $1.5bn.

Rathbones has agreed to acquire up to £1.27bn in private client funds from Lloyds Banking Group for a cash consideration expected to be about £35.4m.

Standard Life has named group finance director David Nish as successor to group chief executive Sir Sandy Crombie from 1 January 2010.

Sesame has completed its acquisition of Bankhall and the Premier Mortgage Service from Skandia UK.

Aegon has let go four members of its European equity team as part of a restructure which will also see the departure of the group's sales and marketing director Jon Bennett.

Rathbones is in discussions with Lloyds over the sale of the banking giant's non-core private client discretionary management activities.