Squawk Box (Europe)

Linda Jane Coffin, director of S&P Capital IQ, told CNBC, "We have noticed that the number of stocks held in portfolios have fallen very dramatically in some instances by up to forty percent and within regulatory guidelines the concentration in the fund managers best picks, the top ten stocks, can account for up to nearly forty percent of the portfolio now."

Michael Jarmen, chief strategist, H2O Capital Markets, told CNBC, "The barriers to entry are now a lot lower so I am starting to position myself with more of a risk on mentality, but there is still going to be a lot of headline risk politically that is going to play out over the next couple of weeks, so I think you have to expect volatility and have the stomach to trade these markets."

Ian Mason, CEO of Electrocomponents, told CNBC, "The UK is just a better economy than it was, we¿ve had the help from the pound and resurgence in manufacturing which may surprise people and generally customers have been feeling more positive in the UK, what customers want is high service and access to lots of products."

Max Knudsen, chief market strategist, ADS Securities, joined CNBC for a technical look at EUR/USD and the GBP/USD.

Graham Mackay, CEO of SABMiller, told CNBC, "Now but of course always we have tried to create a business which has an emerging market growth profile and in these times it is particularly useful I have to say."

James Ferguson, head of strategy, Westhouse Securities, told CNBC, "When you have got the banks repairing their balance sheets that really stops most of the SMEs and the households participating to s we are really relying on the corporates and they are in good health, they are full of cash ready to invest but not in the right frame of mind to invest."

Bill English, New Zealand's finance minister, told CNBC, "I think we have the (budget) balance about right, we have relatively low government debt but it has been rising fast and our household debt is quite high but starting to come down, I think we have struck the right balance between a gradual path back to surplus and structural reform."

Risk on or risk off whatever your investment strategy there are some interesting trades around, here are some insights from guests on Squawk Box today.

Despite political instability Egyptian markets have enjoyed a fair rally in the first three months of 2012; investors though will be looking for further upside if the country can successfully elect a president in the first democratic poll in sixty years. Yousef Gamal El-Din has more from Cairo.