F&C backs Euro small caps rebound

Longden, manager of F&C's European Assets Trust and European SmallCap fund, outlined how the first few months of a new year are generally positive for the asset class and, while sentiment among investors has deteriorated markedly in the past few weeks, business confidence remained relatively robust. He added that now hedge funds and private equity concerns were largely absent from the mergers and acquisitions circuit, companies themselves were stepping in with takeover bids to shore up their franchises for tougher times and, in the process, supporting share prices across industry sectors....