Henderson

SECTOR ANALYSIS

The yield available on European sub-investment grade debt has fallen to a two-year low as the default rate on the Continent continues to run at almost zero.

Henderson head of multi-manager Mark Harris has moved back into Chinese equities after almost a year away from the region.

With European companies reporting significant earnings growth in 2010, Henderson's Richard Pease says these opportunities can no longer be ignored.

Henderson Global Financials manager Emily Adderson has reintroduced a short position on European banks and boosted cash on expectations of near-term pressure for the sector.

Henderson's Trevor Green believes investors should not read too much into today's "depressing" results from retailers, saying they do not adequately reflect the outlook for the entire sector.

It is "unlikely" the UK economy will plunge into a double dip recession next year, says Henderson's head of equities Bill McQuaker.

Equity fund managers are divided on the ability of absolute return funds to deliver positive results in current market conditions.

The board of £14m Henderson Financial Opportunities is proposing to wind up the investment trust due to the continued fears around the banking industry.

The managers of the Henderson Managed Distribution fund have added put options and a short equity index future into the portfolio on expectations of near-term pressure for stock markets.