Broadly speaking, the investment story of 2013 so far has been one of soaring developed world equity markets but slumping bond returns. But how has that translated in terms of fund flows in the UK?
Absolute return providers have been forced to respond to capacity questions by changing fund remits or even soft-closing vehicles as flows into the sector leap this year.
Gold funds were standout winners in August as investors' appetite for risk waned amid concerns of a tapering of monetary stimulus in the US and potential military action in Syria.
Top fund managers have expressed anger over Co-operative Bank's £1.5bn rescue plan and warned its risk a full-scale investor rebellion if it fails to deal with its bondholders.