Research published today by PwC shows that in the nine months to the end of September 2014 loan portfolios with a face value of Euro 67bn have been sold by Europe's banks. PwC estimates there are transactions currently in process for portfolios totalling a further Euro 50bn.

Assets managed by the world's largest 500 fund managers rose by almost 12% to reach a record US$76 trillion in 2013, surpassing the previous high of over US$69 trillion set in 2007. The Pensions & Investments / Towers Watson World 500 researchshows that due to consistent growth of assets in the past six years, total assets have now more than doubled since 2002.

In the report, Nomura's researchers highlight five channels through which emerging market economies are affected by lower commodity prices: Merchandise trade, CPI inflation, profit margins, fiscal positions, and GDP growth to assess the winners and losers in the Emerging Markets universe. The report also provides Nomura's top FX and rates trading strategy recommendations...

Total hedge fund capital increased to a record level in the third quarter as financial market volatility increased into quarter-end, with inflows concentrated in Event Driven and Fixed Income-based Relative Value Arbitrage strategies, according to the latest HFR Global Hedge Fund Industry Report...

The number of people aged 65 years and above will grow by around 80% to nearly 1 billion over the next 15 years. Meeting the care needs of the elderly will be one of the main challenges facing society. Swiss Re's latest sigma study: How will we care? Finding sustainable long-term care solutions for an ageing world examines how tightening government budgets, changing demographics, low personal means and limited awareness need to be addressed if this challenge is to be met.