US

Markets around the world sold-off overnight while oil continued to soar, as the prospect of military involvement in Syria's civil war grows.

US investors are taking profits in outperforming sectors such as healthcare and revisiting technology names, viewing them as a dividend play for the first time.

The increasing likelihood of former US treasury secretary Larry Summers becoming Fed chairman next year has prompted a further spike in bond yields, analysts suggest.

Shares in the US closed sharply lower on Thursday - with some indices hit by the worst one-day percentage falls since late June - as positive jobs data sparked fears the Federal Reserve will move earlier than expected to taper its quantitative easing...

SOAPBOX

A growing number of wealth managers are shutting their doors on US expatriates as a controversial new tax law nears its implementation, according to an international advisory firm.

The Federal Reserve last night indicated it has no plans to tone down its quantitative easing programme in the near future, arguing the US economy is not in a strong enough position to turn off the liquidity taps.

BACK IN

US equities can benefit from the end of QE and post an annualised return of 10% by end-2014, according to AXA IM head of research Eric Chaney.

Does Europe warrant inclusion in portfolios yet? Mona Shah, assistant manager on Rathbones' multi-asset portfolios, examines the fundamentals.