Does crisis-hit Europe offer value?

Europe may not instinctively spring to mind as a top investment destination for income seekers. A torrent of negative indicators since late 2009 has left the region unloved and untouched by many investors. Although the outlook at the start of this year seemed more optimistic, thanks mainly to the ECB's long-term refinancing operation (LTRO) essentially ending a run on European banks, investor appetite still appears weak. February alone saw £127m leave the Europe ex UK sector, marking the tenth consecutive month of outflows. However, the battering the region has taken over the past thr...