Denmark’s PFA knows first hand what it’s like to be on the brink of abject failure. But unlike many others, it managed to turn its fortunes around with a restructure of its risk management and investment framework.

Chinese sovereign wealth funds have largely sidestepped the doom and gloom suffered by other global markets, leaving them more appealing than ever to foreign asset managers. But winning mandates from these funds isn’t easy.

Supply and demand for bonds skyrocketed last year as cash crashed and equity see-sawed, but what will 2010 have in store for the asset class as deficits widen and inflationary pressures surface.

It has been hotly debated whether high-frequency trading helps or hinders institutions, but the current question is whether it should be regulated.

The success illustrated by the growth of ETFs globally has been dampened by a report that claims they are too costly and risky.

The breadth and nature of the ETF market continues to widen, with new players jostling to break into this growing scene.

To reflect the growing popularity of ETFs, many providers have been hurrying to launch experimental products just to be the first on the market, only to have them shelved shortly afterwards due to lack of investment.

The hedge fund industry contracted by around 40 per cent in 2008, and that continues to have repercussions for administrators who face service and price pressures.