Preqin's latest research shows that infrastructure funds that have reached a final close so far this year have raised $1bn in capital on average, representing the highest average fund size seen since 2007, when funds raised an average of $1.1bn.

Governments must act today to ensure that the infrastructure needed in 2020-2030 will be planned, developed and operational in time, according to a new OECD report.

ETFGI's research finds ETFs and ETPs globally have gathered a record 199.0 billion US dollars in net new assets through the end of Q3 2014, surpassing the previous high of US$185.8 Bn set in the first three quarters of 2012.

There were more M&A deals1 completed globally in the third quarter of 2014 than in any prior equivalent period for the last six years according to Towers Watson's Quarterly Deal Performance Monitor (QDPM). The research – run in partnership with Cass Business School – shows that deal volumes are on track to make 2014 the strongest year for M&A since 2012, with 564 deals over $100 million completed so far.

Sentiment towards Europe has picked up in the wake of recent monetary policy easing by the ECB, while investors are increasingly sure of a rate hike by the Fed in spring 2015, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch Fund Manager Survey for September.