Government bonds

Yields on tranches of German debt fell below the amount paid by Japan for the first time ever mid-afternoon, as investors considered the likelihood of another round of stimulus in Europe.

Over the last 10 years, 1,000 new funds have been launched every year in Europe across all asset classes, a Lipper report has found.

Greek bonds issued following Friday's €206bn debt exchange are trading at distressed levels, suggesting the deal has failed to reassure investors.

M&G bond manager Mike Riddell and his team have taken exposure to global index-linked bonds to their highest ever levels in the view inflation risks have not been priced into the market.

THE GREEK 'DEFAULT'

The latest round of quantitiative easing is a threat to future economic growth in the UK, Fidelity's bond star Ian Spreadbury has warned.

Ignis' chief economist Stuart Thomson has hailed Mervyn King as the "central banker of the year" for supporting the UK economy and protecting its safe haven status over the past 12 months.

Pictet Asset Management has launched a global government bond fund that will invest according to an issuer's fundamentals rather than by region.

PAYING THE LOCUSTS

Invesco Perpetual's co-head of fixed income Paul Read has said April's French presidential election is the "one to watch" for markets in 2012.