Regions

UK/EUROPE - Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has hired Richard Norval as executive director with the European cash sales team, based in London.

US/EUROPE/UK - Investment bank JP Morgan Chase Bank has bought US-based transaction cost analysis firm (TCA) Plexus Group and struck a deal with the UK's Inalytics in bid to expand its services into the European institutional market.

EUROPE - Defaults on EU high yield bonds rose to a record level in the second quarter of this year, ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) says.

GLOBAL - Investors added a net US$4.57bn to hedge funds in the second quarter as they pulled out mutual funds, according to Tremont's TASS Research.

GLOBAL - Bonds outperformed hedge funds over the last year, according to figures released by global benchmark provider MSCI.

UK/EUROPE - Schroder Investment Management has hired Nicholas Gartside as European fixed income manager.

UK/US/EUROPE - The London-based arm of US investment firm GMO Woolley is planning to launch an absolute return strategies fund for European investors following a resurgence of interest in actively managed funds.

GLOBAL - Some of the world's largest companies have just over twelve weeks to disclose their green house gas emissions following pressure from institutional investors.

EUROPE/UK - State Street Corporation has made Justin Shinebourne head of its equity sales team in Europe.

THE NETHERLANDS - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Leen Meijaard has as a director of sales & relationship management for the Benelux region.