UK

Cru is considering an approach to former Arch CIO Michael Derks, with a view to him helping them assume investment management duties over the Arch Cru range.

Charles Deptford is to join Smith & Williamson Investment Management on 3 June as a manager on the S&W Enterprise fund and as lead manager the group's UK Special Situations and UK Equity Growth funds.

PSigma Income fund manager Bill Mott has begun to trim exposure to cyclicals after a number of stocks in the portfolio staged sharp performance spikes over recent months.

Ted Scott will not be returning to F&C as an investment manager following his period of ill health.

Rathbones is to request formal FSA approval for the merger of Rathbone High Income and Rathbone Blue Chip Income and Growth this week.

Insight has launched an equity income fund aiming to provide an enhanced level of income and capital growth.

Liontrust Asset Management's Jeremy Lang and William Pattisson will leave the company next month, some nine months ahead of schedule.

Invesco Perpetual's head of investment Neil Woodford says defensive areas of the market remain undervalued and offer opportunities to deliver strong dividends and cash flow.

Rathbone is merging the High Income fund into its UK Blue Chip and Growth fund, with current manager Hugh Yarrow set to leave the firm.

Hargreaves Lansdown is recommending the SVM UK Absolute Alpha - which launched this week - via its Wealth 150.