Economics / Markets

British Land slid after an analyst downgrade, helping the FTSE shed about 4.2 points to 6,156.1 in early trading.

INVESCO Perpetual is to convert its UK Key Trends fund to a best ideas style vehicle, changing the name to UK Focus.

NEW Star's Guy de Blonay has urged the Investment Management Association (IMA) to create a new sector for funds which invest in financial services firms.

HSBC has revealed the likely composition of its first two open range products.

AVIVA is telling eligible policyholders to wait until 2008 for a decision on reattribution payments for two with-profits funds.

PETER Webb's Falcon investment trust outperformed its benchmark, the Hoare Govett Smaller Companies index, by 5pc for the year to September 30, 2006.

AN overweight in pharmaceuticals led to the Barings UK Growth fund lagging the performance of the UK Equity Income portfolio, according to manager Charles Deptford.

SCOTTISH Widows Investment Partnership has two fund launches planned for the first quarter of 2007, and has revealed a high alpha fixed income product could be on the cards.

COFUNDS announced it had reached £10bn in assets as it carries out tests on a new offshore bond product and investment trust links to be launched next year.

PRUDENTIAL International has appointed fund of funds manager and stock broker Williams de Broë as discretionary fund manager in its offshore Prudence Portfolio Bond 2.