Gartmore

Having reached a low point in early March, European equity markets have rebounded strongly in recent months.

Inflows into IMA Cautious Managed sector are returning as investors look to increase exposure to equities through lower-risk strategies

Having recorded further heavy losses in early 2009 to reach a low point in March, share prices have rebounded strongly in recent months.

Royal London UK Mid-Cap Growth trust manager Leigh Himsworth will leave the company to become Gartmore's head of UK equities in the autumn.

New Gartmore addition John Anderson has taken on the group's institutional gilt range, following Simon Surtees' exit from the company.

Current climate of low interest rates beneficial as all but one of 60 funds in UK Smaller Companies peer group post gains over six months

Gartmore has appointed Warren Shiels to the newly created position of head of intermediary sales.

Lloyds is set to choose a buyer for its Insight Investments operations within weeks, having reportedly received five binding offers from firms including Schroders and Gartmore owners Hellman & Friedman.

From where we sit at the half-way point of the year, it seems that to advocate an argument on whether the market is bullish or bearish is as finely balanced as it has been for a long time.

Gartmore's UK Absolute Return fund manager Ben Wallace says he is still cautious about the future of the market and is preparing for a worse second half of the year.