Axa Framlington

THE BIQ QUESTION

Richard Buxton's decision to leave Schroders for Old Mutual Global Investors (OMGI) in March has helped boost a number of UK equity funds as investors switched holdings.

Nigel Thomas, manager of AXA Framlington's £4.4bn UK Select Opportunities fund, has won the Outstanding Fund Manager award from Morningstar OBSR.

BIG QUESTION

AXA Framlington's Mark Hargraves is to take over management of the group's Global Opportunities fund as Mark Tinker becomes Asia business head.

The return of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has boosted the country's stock market and lifted inflation, but which managers have benefited most so far, and which have lagged behind?

Psigma Investment Management is to acquire the private client business of AXA Framlington in September.

UK North Sea oil production represents a key opportunity for UK equity managers as capex increases and production ramps up, according to AXA Framlington's Nigel Thomas.

Schroders today announced it is in talks with Cazenove Capital about a potential takeover of the group, as the FTSE 100 giant moves to fill a Richard Buxton-shaped hole in its UK equity desk.

As advisers digest last week's revelation that top UK fund manager Richard Buxton is to exit Schroders after more than a decade at the group, attention is now turning to where to invest next.