Jupiter's Guy de Blonay is among 22 managers who have made Trustnet's Alpha Manager list for the first time, while high profile names including Sanjeev Shah and Mark Lyttleton have been cut.

AXA Investment Managers is launching a UK mid-cap fund in early March, subject to FSA approval.

Invesco Perpetual's Neil Woodford has sold his £250m stake in Northumbrian Water Group, as regulations restrict the firm's potential to provide decent returns.

London's leading share index pushed above the 6,000 mark in early morning trading, buoyed by rising commodity prices and corporate profits.

AXA's multi-manager firm Architas is planning to launch a series of Ucits ‘distributor' funds midway through this year as part of a push into Europe.

The Aberdeen multi-management team has begun to build up exposure to developed regions, with a skew towards UK equity funds.

Emerging markets guru Mark Mobius says the geopolitical impact of the unrest in Egypt could be far-reaching and largely positive, by sparking "long overdue" reform in the region.

The first month of 2011 has already seen developments for AXA's multi-manager firm Architas, with Caspar Rock becoming chief investment officer in January.

London's leading share index edged higher in early morning trading, after disappointing results from Royal Dutch Shell yesterday dragged the FTSE down to close below 6,000.

Neptune's head of US equities Felix Wintle has boosted the energy position in his £667m US Opportunities fund from underweight to overweight since the end of last year.