USA

Next year could see the start of a long-term restriction in US and UK economic growth rates sparked by excessive personal and government debt loads, warns Aberdeen Asset Management.

The international body managing standards of the certified financial planner is looking to implement a future regime based on competency skills.

Guess what Bulgaria, Spain and the US have in common?

Investment house F&C has announced it has moved underweight in equities for the first time in three years, but this contrasts with research from New Star which suggests equities perform best between October and January.

There are further warnings of a potential return to the bear market as Barings predicts investors are now prepared to take more risks with investments and equity markets could see increased volatility as a result.

Fears of a possible end to the current strong growth in equity returns are being driven by "false signals" as a continued bullish nature towards global market should be expected in 2006, suggest Standard Life Investments strategists.

UK economic fundamentals look good for next year, but there is a downside risk that could be sparked by US consumption falling if the housing market there slows, analysis by L&G suggests.

Shopping, building and money seem to be the sectors affecting the UK's main stock market this morning, but the bigger stories of the day are to be found in the rise of Japanese stocks and new troubles for GM.

When IFAs makes portfolio diversification remmendations, mining stocks are probably not the first sector that springs to mind.

US elections, the falling oil price and the view UK interest rates peaked helped UK investors find their confidence in the last quarter of 2004, says Lipper.