Offshore Investment

Barclays Capital has launched a further UK Equity index-linked structured deposit account for offshore bond investors.

Fairbairn Private Bank and Lombard International make new appointments.

J. P. Morgan Asset Management's US Equity Income Fund portfolio manager, Clare Hart is forecasting that the US will continue to experience sub-trend growth over the next one to two years, but that a recession will be avoided.

Despite the recent downgrades by Standard & Poor's and Fitch, Royal London Asset Management reports that a relative stability has settled over European government bond markets as risk assets rally.

Trade associations across Europe have welcomed proposals by the European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) to increase investor protection and transparency on UCITS, but concerns remain over consistency of approach in relation to non-UCITS funds.

Aviva has sold off its interests in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania to MetLife in a €57m deal allowing Aviva to concentrate its focus on those markets where it has "strength and scale".

The European Commission has officially asked Luxembourg to change its rules on VAT in the case of independent groups of persons, saying the principality's current rules are incompatible with EU law.

The Isle of Man has been praised for its role in supporting the UK economy by the Lord Mayor of the City of London on the occasion of his first visit to the Island.

Jersey plans to make further inroads into the alternative funds sector with the introduction of its 'fast track' Private Placement Fund.

Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has signed a protocol agreement with the US' Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) which signals a closer working relationship between the two countries.