Len Brennan, a former senior executive with two decades experience with the firm, will re-join Russell on 11 July as Chief Executive of its business across Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA), subject to FSA approval. Additionally, Pascal Duval has been named president of EMEA and will work in concert with Brennan on the strategic direction of the business in the region.

The situation appears to be a paradox. France is just coming out of a crisis but real estate prices have sharply increased during the previous months and have only slightly decreased at the height of the crisis. How can this phenomenon be explained?

Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are state-owned or affiliated funds. The first type (by far the biggest) invests foreign exchange reserves, driven by trade surpluses and exports of natural resources.

Back on bailout plans granted to countries in the Euro zone encountering severe fiscal deficits since May 2010. How are tens of billions Euros raised, what are they for, and mainly, are those amounts enough to re-establish the public finances and stabilize those countries banking system.

So many reasons to sell the Euro against the dollar. Nevertheless we can expect a fall of the euro in the second half of 2011. The dollar should continue to remain for now a safe haven despite the monstrous imbalances in the US economy and because of the real risk of implosion of the euro zone.