Global

LONDON - Stock markets in the UK and across Europe fell sharply this morning as news of a series of explosions in central London broke.

HONG KONG - Gartmore hasopened an office in Hong Kong to operate as a research hub in the Asian region.

GLOBAL - The outcomes of the G8 Summit, the meeting of the world's most powerful leaders, will have a direct impact on investors, F&C Asset Management predicts.

BAHRAIN - Dow Jones Indexes and the Bahrain Stock Exchange have launched the Dow Jones Bahrain Index.

The Netherlands - ABN AMRO Mellon Global Securities is to launch its proprietary domestic custody operation in The Netherlands.

THE NETHERLANDS - Philips' decision to hive off its e13.5bn pensions asset management business to Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) is sending ripples of discontent across the pension fund, with at least seven people resigning and several more...

GLOBAL - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Paul Freeman to the newly created role of head of product for the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific region.

GLOBAL - Citigroup has signed a deal with Legg Mason to swap its asset management business for the Baltimore based firm's broker-dealer unit, marking the end of an era for Citigroup's financial supermarket model.

GLOBAL - Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) is one the verge of unveiling its first actively managed commodity fund for global clients.

GLOBAL - Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has appointed Rohit Bhagat as global chief operating officer (COO).