Skandia

Insynergy Investment Management has appointed Eric Bateman as managing director of the firm's new international arm.

Skandia Investment Group (SIG) is reviewing a £7.6m bond mandate run by Old Mutual Asset Managers (OMAM) following the departure of manager Stephen Snowden.

Skandia Investment Group is planning to revamp Francois Zagame's Equity Income fund of funds, giving it a global remit and changing it from a fund of funds to a single manager portfolio.

Skandia Investment Group has handed F&C's Peter Lees a £21m mandate for the group's UK Best Ideas fund, replacing Colin McLean of SVM Asset Management.

Skandia Investment Group has changed the manager line-up on its flagship £1bn Global Dynamic Equity fund, removing a £67m mandate from Alliance Bernstein and handing it to Mandarine Gestion.

There is a "real chance" the Bank of England will raise interest rates as early as next week, says Skandia, with subsequent hikes pushing rates up to 3% by the end of next year.

The first quarter of this year should see strong growth following the shock 0.5% UK GDP fall in the fourth quarter of 2010, says Rupert Watson, asset allocation strategist at Skandia Investment Group.

Skandia Investment Group has begun the year overweight equities in the view they will rally throughout 2011, fuelled by growth, low interest rates and favourable valuations.

Skandia Investment Group (SIG) has launched a local currency emerging market debt fund in order to benefit from the long-term prospects for the asset class.

Skandia has added international asset manager Danske Capital to its European Best Ideas fund.