The recent rally in equity markets may have more to do with downsizing measures than growth, but the business world is proving more resilient than many expected, writes Ceri Jones

Although questioned in the wake of the financial crisis that unfolded in September last year, structured investments have, in their wide majority, proven a reliable and resilient source of performance for investors. Thomas Carrega explains how they can help investors achieve their goals

While profits at the Julius Baer group have been falling – down by almost half in the first six months of 2009 to SFr219m (E143m) – they have fallen less than the army of analysts following the Swiss banking sector expected. The bank, Switzerland’s second largest after UBS and Credit Suisse, recently separated its wealth and asset management franchises, now to be listed individually on the Swiss exchange. The figures who have attracted most coverage are Boris Collardi, the young and charismatic private banking boss and protégé of recently deceased veteran chief Alex Widmer; and the enigmatic leader of the funds house, David Solo. But the bank’s recently appointed chief investment officer, Indian-born Dr V Anantha-Nageswaran (known as Dr Van to his colleagues and clients), is taking an increasingly important role in providing asset allocation guidance for the funds which are flowing out of some rivals into Julius Baer’s coffers. His experience working for Julius Baer in Singapore, as well as the bank’s two main rivals in Zurich, and running a hedge fund in between, should stand him in good stead for the challenge ahead.

The market downturn has led the super-rich to question their wealth managers, reports Elisa Trovato, but there will be huge opportunities for those who understand clients' needs

Wealth managers are responding tactically to extreme market conditions, with alternative assets attracting substantial allocations. Stephen Wall and Cath Tillotson discuss the strategies in use for HNW clients' portfolios

Yuri Bender talks to Ausaf Abbas head of Emea sales at Morgan Stanley about plans to expand the business away from its US powerbase and the preference for an open architecture approach