Regions

EUROPE - Permal Investment Management, which runs a portfolio of multi-manager hedge fund products, has been awarded ‘AA' ratings by Standard & Poor's (S&P) for two of its key global funds - Haussmann Holdings and Permal Investment Holdings.

EUROPE - Swiss Life Asset Management (SLAM) is on the acquisitions trail in the UK after a string of activity in Continental Europe.

GLOBAL - The Dow slumped 5% in its first hour yesterday, and 7% before it closed, following one of the most anticipated openings in stock market history.

GLOBAL - In a few hours time at 9.30am EST, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the world's largest, will ring its opening bell.

EUROPE - An EU anti-discrimination directive could have major implications for pension plans in the UK and continental Europe, according to William M Mercer.

GLOBAL - Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), the global real estate services and investment management firm, has promoted Peter Roberts to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer.

GLOBAL - Standard & Poor's, the global rating agency, has said the direct financial losses relating to last week's attacks on the US will in all likelihood exceed the largest insured losses ever yet seen.

GLOBAL - Salomon Smith Barney, the investment bank whose New York operations were wiped out following the devastating attack on the World Trade Center towers has issued a bullish statement on the tempo of global markets.

EUROPE - In line with the decision by the European Union to hold a day of mourning today, European stock exchanges across the continent observed three minute's silence beginning at 11am BST (British Standard Time).

GLOBAL - PricewaterhouseCoopers is planning to cut 7% of it UK consulting staff in the wake of the current global economic slowdown.