What Investment articles from April 2004

What Investment archives from April 2004

Not such an Equitable outcome.(Comment)
April 1, 2004... 'As we go to press this the long-awaited Penrose Report into the Equitable Life debacle has at last hit the desks of the great and the good in the City of London and beyond. But investors hoping for a swift conclusion to the situation may find...

With-profits review.(news)
April 1, 2004... Independent financial adviser John Scott & Partners has produced the Analysis of With Profit Funds report. The report looks at the financial strength and the underlying asset allocation of with-profits funds, and then provides informed...

Share Crazy.(news)
April 1, 2004... Tony Craze, one of the UK's best-known stock-pickers, has launched a free-to-access financial website www.tonycraze.com offering investment recommendations and financial commentary from industry experts. The site will also include interviews...

Active versus passive.(news)
April 1, 2004... Henderson Investment Trusts has produced a guide to active and passive fund management. Written by personal finance specialist and What Investment contributor Simon Hildrey, the guide explains the importance of good stock picking in a...

Happy returns.(News Round-up)
April 1, 2004... Hitchens Investment Management, a bespoke discretionary investment specialist, has launched a range of Wealth Management Solutions (WAS). Designed to meet abroad range of investor profiles with a disciplined approach to protecting, preserving...

No fortune needed.(News Round-up)
April 1, 2004... Analyst Investment Management has launched an investment management service combining the advantages of discretionary investment management with the simplicity of an investment fund. With charges linked to performance, the service is designed...

Flex your OEICs.(News Round-up)
April 1, 2004... Open-ended investment companies (OEICs) continue to show higher average annual charges than unit trusts, according to research from Fitzrovia International. Introduced seven years ago, OEICs show an average annual charge of 1.69 per cent,...

Limited edition.(News Round-up)
April 1, 2004... Premier Fund Managers is offering the latest tranche of its Premier Limited Edition plan. The Premier Limited Edition 15 is a six-year growth plan based on the FTSE 100, offering 100 per cent capital protection whatever happens in the stock...

Wrap up your China.(News Round-up)
April 1, 2004... Dawnay Day Quantum has launched the Protected China fund, a six-year fixed-life product offering 70 per cent of the growth in the FTSE Xinhua China 25 Index. The fund offers 90 per cent capital protection and is available within an ISA wrapper...

Guide to discounts.(news)
April 1, 2004... Financial Discounts Direct has sponsored a free guide explaining how investors can buy ISAs, pensions, protection and other financial products at reduced prices. The booklet, How to Buy Financial Products at a Discount, clarifies how discount...

ISA updates.(news)
April 1, 2004... The Association of Investment Trust Companies (AITC) has launched an ISA factsheet explaining the forthcoming changes to tax law and proposed changes to contribution limits from 2006/07. Call 0800 085 8520 or visit www.aitc.co.uk for a free...

Asset mix and match.(news)
April 1, 2004... IFA Bestinvest has launched an advanced online portfolio analysis system. The new system allows investors to determine an appropriate asset mix, view a breakdown of their portfolio, and view suggested changes to the portfolio and performance...

Taking issue: Nic Cicutti reports on the latest issues rocking the world of finance.(April news)
April 1, 2004... Once bitten twice shy--or are we? Many of us with experience of the stock market in recent years will have been determined to make sure that what happened between 2000 and 2003 never repeats itself. Back then, a complicated combination of...

Top ten funds.(news)
April 1, 2004... top ten funds Unit trusts One year 1 Marlborough Special Sits 203.84 2 Artemis New Enterprises 196.03 3 Close FTSE techMark 189.12 4 DES UK Sml Cos A 188.12 5 Insight Inv...

New offers: we examine what the latest savings and investment plans have to offer investors. Each product has been given a star rating, representing its overall value for money, based on cost, terms and conditions and investment opportunity.(April news)
April 1, 2004... * Henderson Henderson has launched the Henderson Strategic High Yield Bond fund. Formerly the Henderson European High Yield fund, the fund in its new form will be able to invest across the full bond spectrum, including government bonds,...

DWS.(Product of the month)
April 1, 2004... DWS Investments has added the DWS Corporate Bond fund to its range of products. The fund will look to provide income and growth from a portfolio of global investment-grade bonds. It has an anticipated yield of 4 per cent with the potential for...

AXA investment managers.(Also launching this month ...)
April 1, 2004... AXA Investment Managers has launched the AXA Corporate Bond fund to provide a combination of income and capital growth through a portfolio of investment-grade corporate bonds. The minimum investment is 1,000 [pounds sterling]. The initial...

Halifax.(Also launching this month ...)
April 1, 2004... Halifax has launched a savings account offering a rate of 6 per cent gross for investors who save a set amount every month for one year. The minimum investment is 25 [pounds sterling] per month and the maximum investment is 250 [pounds...

Nvesta.(Also launching this month ...)
April 1, 2004... Nvesta has launched a five-year income plan offering a minimum income of 4 per cent per annum plus a potential 3 per cent bonus paid annually. The bonus will be paid for each year that the Eurostoxx 50 finishes above the initial strike level....

Ethical money.(Also launching this month ...)
April 1, 2004... Ethical Money has launched the Ethical Money Distribution Account, a product offering investment in a mix of commercial property, corporate bonds and equities whilst maintaining an ethical stance. The main aim of the account is to minimise risk...

Ample.(Also launching this month ...)
April 1, 2004... Online investment service Ample is offering an ISA multi-manager package called the Chart Toppers ISA. The portfolio has been constructed by combining the four most consistent top-performing funds over the last three years: Merrill Lynch Gold &...

Managers on the move: should you stay or should you go? What Investment looks into the reasons behind recent fund manager moves.(Fund managers)
April 1, 2004... After the hectic pace of fund management changes either side of the New Year, things have begun to calm down over the past few weeks. One notable move, however, was that of Adrian Fowler, formerly head of pan-European equities at Aberdeen Asset...

Build a share portfolio: Harvey Jones examines the process behind building up a portfolio of shares.(Focus: equity investing)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... Individual stocks and shares are at the sharp end of equity investing. However much you have won or lost on pooled investment funds, it isn't the same as trading individual companies. This is where the action is, where fast money can be made...

Back from the precipice: following the disastrous performance of precipice bonds, Nick Sudbury reports on a new generation of structured products doing its best to restore investor confidence.(Structured products)
April 1, 2004... Targeted at the low-risk end of the investment market, precipice bonds offered extremely attractive headline rates of returns to investors. Now, it seems, the only headlines these products are attracting spell out bad news for the 250,000...

A fresh start: the investment trust sector has had a rough ride over the past couple of years. Keiron Root reports on the recent turnaround.(Investment trusts performance)
April 1, 2004... When most investors hear the term 'investment trust' these days, they will probably associate it with split capital investment trusts and, in turn, associate split capital trusts with losing money. However, although some investors lost a lot of...

Made to measure: what investment surveys the main players in the world of self-select ISAs.(Self-select ISAs)
April 1, 2004... If you thought that your credit card was the only flexible friend in your financial arsenal, then drink again. In these times of market volatility, financial flexibility has become something of a prerequisite for anyone serious about making...

Through hedge funds backwards: Jamie Murray at HSBC Republic Investments reviews the development of the hedge fund market in the UK.(Q & A)
April 1, 2004... It was not so very long ago that hedge funds were regarded as rather risque products suitable only for individuals who were rich enough to take outrageous investment bets. This is, of course, a huge over-simplification of the matter. Indeed,...

Keep it covered: David Harris looks at the risks and rewards in the covered warrants sector.(Technology)
April 1, 2004... Investors looking to take on more risk in exchange for the potential for greater returns might seem like rare beasts in this day and age, but the growth in the warrants sector in recent years indicates that this is not the case. Warrants...

United Kingdom: inflationary issues.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... Each month, What Investment speaks to the top-performing fund managers in six global markets and asks them to reveal the key issues currently driving their stock-selection decisions. The UK PMI manufacturing index is at its highest level...

United States: election-year boost.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... Historically the US equity market performs better in election years than in non-election years, and 2004 is unlikely to be different America is starting to get into election mode, according to Ken Forman, Global Investment Strategist at...

Europe: room for manoeuvre.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... Valuations leave room for further share price growth in an environment where the economic and interest rate outlooks are positive "Relative to bonds, European equities are looking cheap," says Andrew Killean, fund coordinator of the...

Far East: China ploughs ahead.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... Chinese consumers are spending like there's no tomorrow, raising their spending patterns to reflect higher disposable income levels The Korean banking sector offers investors some good opportunities, says Philip Ehrmann, head of Pacific &...

Japan: on the straight and narrow.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... In addition to the self-help measures companies have instigated, improving global demand continues to mean improving business conditions The Japanese economy is changing for good according to David Mitchinson, manager of Framlington Japan....

Emerging markets: all about the EU.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... Emerging Europe continues to be an attractive investment proposition despite several years of excellent performance European emerging markets seem to be attracting most attention this year, not least because of the strengthening links...

Market insider: the European Union continuing our series providing a fundamental analysis of a region from an economic and political perspective. This month Michael Wilson considers the outlook for the EU.(World Markets)
April 1, 2004... You won't need telling that things are about to change in the European Union. On the first of May, today's 15 member states will be joined by another ten full members, most of them poorer and less developed than any of the current members. They...

Market view.(UK Shares)
April 1, 2004... February was not a bad month for the blue chips but the real fun was to be enjoyed among the small caps and especially on AIM. The FFSE 100 Index ended 2nd March at 4,540.11, a gain on the month of 3.62 per cent. Cracking results from BAe...

UK stock performance.(UK Shares)
April 1, 2004... UK STOCK PERFORMANCE Rank Company Weight in 1 Month Name Index Return TOP 20 FTSE All Share 1 Charter 0.01% 78.50% 2...

FTSE 100 index.(UK Shares)
April 1, 2004... FTSE 100 INDEX Stock 1 month Rank 1 year Rank 3i Group Inv Tr 101.41 70 139.49 45 Abbey National 83.62 97 128.82 61 Alliance &...

Index constituent rankings FTSE 100.(UK Shares)
April 1, 2004... INDEX CONSTITUENT RANKINGS FTSE 100 Rank Security Price Dividend Yield (%) 1 HSBC Hldgs 875.5 4.01% 2 BP...

Tobacco sector view.(UK Shares)
April 1, 2004... The quoted tobacco sector consists of just three companies. In order of size: BAT Industries (at 811p valued at 16.8 billion [pounds sterling]), Imperial Tobacco (at 1182p valued at 8.6 billion [pounds sterling]) and Gallaher, which at 682p is...

Tobacco share view.(UK Shares)
April 1, 2004... My favoured tobacco stock--and I should declare that I hold this stock in my pension fund--is Gallaher. Its 2003 results showed pre-tax profits up by 46 million [pounds sterling] at 501 million [pounds sterling], earnings 8.6 per cent ahead at...

European sector review: Hilary Cook director of investment strategy at Barclays Private Clients, examines the prospects for the European media sector.(Stock Market Review)
April 1, 2004... The outlook for the world economy in 2004 is positive, with a more sustained upturn on the horizon in the US and Asia. Strong growth in the US in the final two quarters of 2003 cast a bright light on the prospects for continued economic growth...

European stock performance.(Stock Market Review)
April 1, 2004... European stock performance Rank Company Weight in 1 Month Name Index Return Top 20 FTSE World Europe 1 mmO2 ...

Unit trust best buys: What Investment asks three independent financial advisers to recommend their favourite unit trusts for a cautious, a balanced and an aggressive investment.(Unit Trusts Monitor)
April 1, 2004... CAUTIOUS OPTION Zahid Nawaz, senior portfolio manager for HSBC's Private Clients division, suggests a global bond fund as an option for cautious investors. The LeggMason Global Opportunities Bond fund was launched in October 2003, and as...

Unit trust performance tables.(Unit Trusts OEICs)
April 1, 2004... What the tables show The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 27 February 2004, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you...

A tale of two managers: Keiron Root meets the management team behind one of the long-term success stories of the investment trust sector.(Fund Manager Profile)
April 1, 2004... This month, we focus on not one fund manager, but two. John Walton and John Pennink are the men behind the success of British Empire Securities & General Trust, a global growth investment trust with a long history and a very distinctive...

Investment trust best buys: What Investment asks three investment trust specialists to recommend their favourite investment trust shares for a cautious, a balanced and an aggressive investment.(Investment Trusts Monitor)
April 1, 2004... CAUTIOUS OPTION Sue Whitbread, director of discretionary portfolio management at Chartwell Investments, suggests cautious investors rely on the tried and tested approach of one of the big generalist trusts. Alliance Trust shares are ranked...

Investment trust performance tables.(Investment Trusts)
April 1, 2004... Investment trust performance tables What the tables show The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 27 February 2004, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested....

The early bird ...(Money Clinic)
April 1, 2004... I would like to see the performance of the unit trusts and investment trusts in What Investment at three months, or even one month, rather than six months. For good new funds, valuable time has been lost in which to invest. I appreciate that...

Nest-egg options.(Money Clinic)
April 1, 2004... My wife has just inherited half of her father's estate. She wishes to invest 2,000 [pounds sterling] to 3,000 [pounds sterling] long term for our grandchildren aged 10 and 5, so that they will have the money when they are 18. Have you any...

To buy, or not to buy ...(Money Clinic)
April 1, 2004... I am a 25-year-old professional earning 27,000 [pounds sterling]. I live and work in Hertfordshire, have a 10,000 [pounds sterling] deposit and wish to become a homeowner. I am afraid of an imminent crash in the housing market and am wary of...

Is it Equitable?(Money Clinic)
April 1, 2004... I have a number of retirement annuities and personal pension plans with different companies, the most significant one with Equitable Life. I am approaching 70 and can take the benefits without penalty in a few months' time. It would be nay...

Best ways to save.(Money Facts)
April 1, 2004... Best ways to save Telephone Number/Website Account INSTANT ACCESS BRANCH ACCOUNTS Scarborough BS 0845 458 4458 Easy Saver Alliance & Leicester 08000...

Personal pension annuity rates.(Reference)
April 1, 2004... An annuity is a financial product that converts capital into income. You can buy one with any lump sum of money or you can buy one with accrued pension funds. Currently, for money purchase pension funds, you must buy an annuity by the time you...

Top-performing unit-linked pensions.(Reference)
April 1, 2004... Top-performing unit-linked pensions Five years to 27 February 2004. Results of 100 [pounds sterling] invested on an offer-to-bid basis with gross income reinvested. Name Value Rank ...