The momentous events of the last week have signalled the final stages of the bear market, according to investment heavyweight Anthony Bolton.

IFAs have a tough time persuading apathetic, wealthy retirees to take action against the worrying effects of IHT and inflation, according to HFM Columbus.

European large cap stocks are more likely to outperform than small or mid caps over the course of the next cycle, according to Lazard Asset Management's Aaron Barnfather.

Total UK pension funding deficits have fallen by around £20bn since the beginning of the week on the back of the equity market fall-out.

Lloyds TSB's takeover of HBOS represents a "best of all evils", though should at least be a base for greater market stability, according to Seven Investment Management's Justin Urquhart Stewart.

ETF Securities yesterday suspended trading on a number of its Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs) due to its exposure to ailing insurance giant AIG.

Baring Asset Management has expanded into the Korean market, opening a sales office in Seoul.

Industry experts remain cautiously optimistic on Russian equities, despite the suspension yesterday of the country's main stock exchanges amid significant share prices falls.

A potential Scottish Widows and Clerical Medical merged entity could create industry-wide nervousness among its major insurance rivals, Rathbones' CIO Julian Chillingworth believes.

Advisers expect Clerical Medical and Scottish Widows to continue to operate separately despite today's confirmed takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB.