Cazenove Capital has confirmed it is merging its £69m UK Dynamic fund into its £62m UK Opportunities fund, both run by Julie Dean, next month.

Bond fund managers have warned they are concerned about the quality and risks of some debt coming to market after a record 12 high-yield bonds were issued last week.

Threadneedle's Dan Ison has backed the eurozone to continue to recover after adding 5.5% to European bank stocks in his £69m Pan European Accelerando fund.

The pound's weakness threatens to bolster inflation above 5%, supporting the need for higher interest rates, says MPC hawk Andrew Sentance.

London's leading share index edged up this morning while other global markets were cautious on fears China will hike interest rates to stem soaring inflation.

Sterling has strengthened against the dollar as a report revealed UK consumer confidence increased in March from record lows, boosting the Bank of England's case for an interest rate hike.

Stephen Snowden will take on the co-management of Aegon's Investment Grade Bond and the Dublin domiciled Investment Grade Global Bond funds when he returns to the firm in July.

The impact of the Japan earthquakes in causing short-term plant closures and supply chain disruptions has led Threadneedle to slash its forecast for the country's growth from 1.5% to 0.9% for 2011.

MAM Funds has moved back into the black, reporting after-tax profit of £400,000 for 2010, compared to a £7m loss in 2009.

Jupiter's Guy de Blonay is among several managers who have welcomed the Independent Banking Commission's report, released yesterday, as the burden of regulation on the UK's banks is set to be less onerous than expected.