Money invested into emerging-market hedge funds fell by about 5% in the first quarter of 2008, according to Hedge Fund Research. Ken Heinz, president of Hedge Fund Research, has the details.

The US trade deficit is expected to have shrunk in March. Paul Mortimer Lee from BNP Paribas says it means domestic demand is weak.

"The ECB has a fine record of being consistent and is credible, and in that sense, keeping the same monetary policy at this point, I think, is the correct decision," Panagiotis Korliras from Athens School of Economics and Business Science said.

The European Central Bank kept interest rates on hold at 4% Thursday, but Andy Hartwill from Objective Capital thinks it should smell the coffee and react to the economic slowdown. Lena Komileva from Tullett Prebon also discusses the ECB.

Former Russian President Vladimir Putin was confirmed as the country's prime minister Thursday after being voted in by parliament. Natalia Leshchenko from Global Insight considers Russia's new leaders.

The value of UK pension buyout deals could hit £10 billion by the end of the year, according to a report out from Lane Clark and Peacock. Charlie Finch from Lane Clark & Peacock discusses the report's findings.

"We had hoped for a quarter-point cut in the rates…something, anything really to stimulate more interest in the housing market, which is generally flat and therefore generally not so good for retail," Noel Sanders, MD of John Lewis Oxford Street, said on the BoE decision.

Will the Bank of England's decision to keep rates on hold provide a boost to the flailing mortgage market? Melanie Bien from Savills Private Finance discusses.

The Bank of England kept interest rates steady at 5% Thursday as fear of inflation outweighted concerns over growth. Tom Vosa from nabCapital, and Alan Clark from BNP Paribas have analysis.