Europe

In the latest Interactive Financial Adviser debate, our panelists from LV= and Threadneedle discussed European Equities.

The BoE risks making the UK's debt problem bigger if it raises rates above 0.5% in the near-term to tackle "one-off" inflationary pressures, says the head of portfolio management at Prudential.

FSA chief executive Hector Sants has won a seat on the management board of the new European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), with two more senior FSA staff taking key roles at other EU watchdogs.

Exchange-traded product provider Source has made a series of appointments, boosting its presence in the European market to take advantage of developing growth opportunities.

Investment management firm and US ETF provider Vanguard is hoping to debut a range of ETFs in Europe this year.

Ruth Lea, economic advisor to the Arbuthnot Banking Group and senior fellow of the Adam Smith Institute, says 2011 holds some room for optimism but overall the near future isn't bright.

FSA chairman Adair Turner may ask the government for the power to block hostile buyouts in the banking sector in a bid to prevent aggressive acquisitions from disrupting financial stability.

ETFs on STOXX Europe 600 sectors have seen aggregate outflows of $120m in 2010, according to BlackRock's final report of the year.

US markets closed 1% ahead yesterday on a buoyant day for global shares as fears around the European sovereign debt crisis eased.

HSBC is planning to unveil swap-based ETFs next year to provide exposure to a greater range of asset classes.