This week Financial News begins a series looking at the prospects for the five biggest UK-listed asset managers in 2012. Aberdeen Asset Management, F&C Asset Management, Henderson Global Investors and Jupiter will all come under the microscope in the coming days. The series begins with Schroders, Britain’s largest listed fund manager in terms of assets under management.

The second half of 2011 was kind to few asset managers, but Schroders suffered more than most.