A number of potentially divisive cultural, economic and social issues are having an increasing impact on investment decisions.

With an ever-expanding investment universe open to private investors, identifying the right global strategy for clients can be extremely difficult, while providing the toolkit to access opportunities and hedge against risk is also a challenge.

Investors have been largely underweight European equities of late, but inflows are improving with optimism driven by strong earnings growth in the North. However, there are worries that this may not be a long-term trend, writes Ceri Jones

With worries over inflation and unrest in the Arab world, fund selectors are looking to move away from the big emerging market funds and towards other ways of accessing developing countries’ growth. Elisa Trovato reports

Emerging market equities have enjoyed stellar growth in recent times, but with problems such as rising inflation on the horizon, opinion is divided about whether this growth is set to continue. Ceri Jones reports

Uncertainty over whether we are in a double dip recession or a mid-cycle slowdown is spooking the markets, but the valuations of solid US companies are extremely attractive to investors. Ceri Jones reports.

Emerging markets could well prove to be the engine of global growth in coming years, and the asset class is full of possibilities for investors. Joanna Terret, product investment specialist, GEM at SWIP, takes a look at some of the opportunities on offer

The wealthy investor, rendered wary by several stormy years, is preparing to step back into the world of equities. Felix Lanters offers a guide to picking the right investment strategy and the appropriate manager.