UK investment manager Ashmore Group's profits jumped 68% over the second half of last year, as it trades at a premium to its peers and rides the wave of demand in the $7.3 trillion (€4.9 trillion) market for emerging market debt.

The value of tradeable securities based on emerging market debt grew from $1 trillion in 1994 to $7.3 trillion last year, according to Ernesto Bettoni, global product specialist focusing on emerging markets and high yield at ABN Amro Asset Management.