As unlikely as it seems, and despite the recent isolationist rhetoric of North Korea's Kim Jong-un, the 2018 Winter Olympics could witness the first steps towards the reunification of the Korean peninsula. Rivalled only by the coming together of East and West Germany in the 1990s, reunification would be a historic political event.

BNP Paribas Asset Management announces the appointment of Christophe Bonnefoux to the newly-created role of Chief Data Officer. Based in Paris, he joined on 22 January and reports to Fabrice Silberzan, BNPP AM's Chief Operating Officer.

Jupiter Asset Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Talib Sheikh as Head of Strategy, Multi-Asset. He joins the business in June and will report directly to Chief Investment Officer, Stephen Pearson.

In the Netherlands, the moderates hold on to power. Then came the election of French President Emmanuel Macron and the decisive victory of his newly founded movement, La République en Marche, in the French general elections.

A record one-month jump in net % of investors indicating they have taken out protection against a sharp fall in equity markets in the next 3 months, at net -30% in February from net -50% in January