What Investment articles from January 2005

What Investment archives from January 2005

Investors in ISA limbo.(Comment)
January 1, 2005... 'Gordon Brown's Pre-Budget statement was his last chance to tell us why we might want to vote Labour in the next election. With the common perception being that the way to most voters' hearts is through their wallets, some may have expected a...

Changes Insight.(January news)
January 1, 2005... Insight Investment has streamlined its range of OEICs, following a review of its fund range. Five of its 27 OEIC funds will be closed, subject to FSA approval. They are: UK Select Opportunities, UK High Yield, European Dynamic, US Select...

Portfolio protection.(January news)
January 1, 2005... Norwich Union has extended its five-year money-back guarantee on new with-profit fund investments in its Portfolio investment bond. The feature guarantees to return a policyholder's original investment on the policy's fifth anniversary,...

Allianz cuts costs.(January news)
January 1, 2005... Allianz Dresdner Asset Management is offering a 1 per cent discount on the initial charge for its UK High Alpha fund. The offer sees the standard 4 per cent fee cut to 3 per cent until 5 April. It applies to lump sum investments of 500 [pounds...

Making it simple.(News Round-up)
January 1, 2005... Investors considering putting money into a fund could soon be presented with a Simplified Prospectus, under new rules proposed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). These documents--already required under EU rules--are designed to give...

A trust fund is born.(News Round-up)
January 1, 2005... Financial services companies are rushing to launch Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts ahead of their formal introduction. Parents can pre-register for an account, despite the fact they will not be up and running until April. The government...

Advice enters new 'depolarised' era.(News Round-up)
January 1, 2005... New rules on financial advice have come into force. Until 1 December 2004, the industry was 'polarised'--advisers could offer 'independent' or 'tied' advice. Independent advisers offered products from the whole of the market, while tied...

Final words.(January news)
January 1, 2005... Newcastle Building Society has launched a will writing-service. Customers can visit a branch or arrange for an adviser to see them at their home. A full financial review will be conducted to ensure the will is tailored to the needs of the...

M&G.(Manager moves: a round-up of the comings and goings in the fund management world)
January 1, 2005... Mike Felton, formerly head of retail equities at ISIS, is to take up the newly created role of head of UK Retail Equities at M&G at the beginning of January. He will be responsible for coordinating M&G's entire UK retail fund range and will...

AXA Investment Managers.(Manager moves: a round-up of the comings and goings in the fund management world)
January 1, 2005... Kieron Nutbrown is to become head of tactical asset allocation at AXA Investment Managers. The move is interesting as Nutbrown has made his reputation as a fixed-interest specialist. His new role will involve integrating key research from AXA's...

Recent moves.(January news)
January 1, 2005... Recent moves To keep track of your fund manager and for further commentary on manager moves, visit www.bestinvest.co.uk Date left Fund manager Moved from... Nov 2004 Richard Prew Henderson Global Investors ...

Top ten funds.(January news)
January 1, 2005... Top ten funds UNIT TRUSTS One year 1 Aviva European Con Equity P1 145.40 2 UBS (Lux) Eqy Fund--Cntrl Euro B 141.22 3 Jupiter Emg Euro Opps Acc 139.51 4 Manulife Gbl Emg Eastern Euro A 136.85...

New offers.(January news)
January 1, 2005... 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 * Sarasin...

Schroders.(Also launching this month ...)
January 1, 2005... Private investors can now buy into one of Schroders' successful institutional funds. The Schroder Recovery Fund invests in companies that are either out of fashion or have suffered a setback such as a fall in profitability. Launched in 1970, it...

Cheltenham & Gloucester.(Also launching this month ...)
January 1, 2005... Cheltenham & Gloucester has relaunched its Young Investor Account. The instant-access savings vehicle can be opened with 10 [pounds sterling] and the minimum amount that can be added or withdrawn is also 10 [pounds sterling]. It currently pays...

West Bromwich Building Society.(Also launching this month ...)
January 1, 2005... West Bromwich Building Society is offering two guaranteed bonds to savers who act fast. The FTSE-linked Guaranteed Bonus Tracker Bond 2 and Security & Performance Bond are available until 3 January. The tracker bond offers capital protection...

Full of sound and fury: big claims and a flashy fund launch don't always go hand-in-hand with success.(Lessons from history)
January 1, 2005... Even those readers with only the slightest acquaintance with organised religion will at some stage in their lives have come across the passage from St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, which extols the virtues and properties of love. It...

Something to smile about? Will the Chinese year of the rooster deliver a wake-up call to the markets and bring much-needed cheer to investors?(Forecasts for 2005)
January 1, 2005... According to the Chinese calendar, 2005 is the year of the rooster. People born this year are characterised as hardworking and definite about their decisions--which are also the traits most likely to serve investors well over the next 12...

Nothing ventured ... Venture capital trusts invest in small fledgling companies and one success can be enough to generate good returns. But it's a risky business as Stephen Spurdon explains.(VCTs)
January 1, 2005... Beware those siren voices that use tax relief as the incentive for investment. But, equally, do not steer around an entire asset class just because most media comment on it includes the term 'risky'. That, at present, describes the polarised...

The 0 per centers: still paying for Christmas? Consider switching to a best-buy credit card--but not all interest-free offers are equal.(Credit cards)
January 1, 2005... Credit cards have become as essential as turkey, Christmas pudding and good wine over the festive season. But if you're left with a debt, now could be a good time to search for a cheaper deal. If you pay your balance off in full each month,...

Deposit dilemma.(Money clinic: a panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
January 1, 2005... I have 58,000 [pounds sterling] in a money purchase pension with my last employer. As I am three years away from the retirement age for the scheme, I want to protect my money and guarantee a value of the fund in three to five years' time....

The REIT investment?(Money clinic: a panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
January 1, 2005... I have just cashed in a with-profits bond without incurring a market value reduction (MVR) penalty. I am now looking for another investment vehicle with a similar risk and tax profile. I have used my ISA allowance for this tax year. Would now...

Damage limitation.(Money clinic: a panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
January 1, 2005... Four and a half years ago, I was advised to cash in my nine-year-old Prudence Bond and a bond from Standard Life and to reinvest the proceeds in a Scottish Mutual with-profits bond. Several weeks later I realised Scottish Mutual was not as...

Misplaced trust.(Money clinic: a panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
January 1, 2005... When ISAs first became available in 1999, I invested 7,000 [pounds sterling] in Newton Income Units. I wanted to provide income, but I also wanted capital growth. I've been disappointed with the capital return, so what should I do now? S...

Approach with caution: technology is in a position to attract back some of the investors it burned in the late 1990s, but as Simon Hildrey finds, this is a sector for stock-pickers.(Technology)
January 1, 2005... A superficial look at newspaper headlines suggests technology is returning to health. We have seen the successful listing of Google, Vodafone has announced the launch of its third-generation (3G) mobile phone services at an estimated cost...

Global equities: all downhill for the dollar?(Asset Allocation)
January 1, 2005... Michael Hughes, chief investment officer at Baring Asset Management, caused something of a stir when he suggested that the US dollar would continue to weaken, so much so that it would fall to $2.30 to the pound "at some point in the next 12 to...

Bonds: nice but dull.(Asset Allocation)
January 1, 2005... "The outlook for the bond market over the coming year is as it should be every year--dull, but rather benign," says Laurence Mutkin, director of fixed interest at Threadneedle. "Emergency monetary accommodation is no longer necessary. Economies...

Commodities: Chinese drivers.(Asset Allocation)
January 1, 2005... China and oil prices have been dominating the world of commodities. David Whitten, head of global resources at First State Investments, rounds up the news from the former: "China provided a number of mixed signals, first reporting that growth...

Property: building demand bonus.(Asset Allocation)
January 1, 2005... Institutional investors are returning to the property market, according to Schroders. "Following years of neglect, institutions have been the biggest net buyers of UK property in 2004," says William Hill, the company's head of property. He...

Market insider: Australia: continuing our series providing a fundamental analysis of a region from an economic and political perspective. This month, Michael Wilson considers the outlook for Australia.(World Markets)
January 1, 2005... Spare a thought, as you shiver through the January slush and the freezing fog, for the man with the biggest smile in the southern hemisphere. Australia's prime minister John Howard isn't simply celebrating a crushing victory in the...

Market view: Tom Winnifrith considers the outlook for UK shares.(UK Shares)
January 1, 2005... November was another good month for UK equities, but there were clouds on the horizon: falling house prices and signs of a consumer slowdown on the high street hit retailers and housebuilders, while the FTSE 100 heavyweight pharmaceutical...

FTSE 100 index.(UK Shares)
January 1, 2005... FTSE 100 INDEX Stock 1 month Rank 1 year Rank 3i Group plc 112.19 8 109.79 58 Alliance & Leicester 99.07 78 101.60 77 Alliance Unichem ...

Index constituent rankings FTSE 100.(UK Shares)
January 1, 2005... INDEX CONSTITUENT RANKINGS FTSE 100 Rank Stock Price Dividend Yield (%) 1 BP 534 ...

Pharmaceuticals sector view.(UK Shares)
January 1, 2005... The UK fully listed pharmaceuticals sector contains 30 stocks, four of which are in the FTSE 100. Beneath the main market, AIM and Ofex both contain a raft of small biotechnology companies. The integrated pharma majors are engaged both in...

Pharmaceuticals share view.(UK Shares)
January 1, 2005... GlaxoSmithKline is a company born as a result of a series of mega mergers in the 1990s--Wellcome with Glaxo then with SmithKline (which itself had earlier merged with Beecham). Its shares were hit hard by the FDA announcement but in reality...

European sector review: Hilary Cook, director of investment strategy at Barclays Private Clients, examines the prospects for the European pharmaceuticals sector.(Stock Market Review)
January 1, 2005... Times are tough in the world of global pharmaceuticals, and we are increasingly expecting a new era where current sector-growth levels in the US, and by extension the global market, will become untenable. Concern is focused on the slowing...

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)
January 1, 2005... CAUTIOUS OPTION Anna Bowes, savings & investments manager at Chase de Vere Investments, points cautious investors in the direction of the Scottish Widows High Income Bond fund. This fund is ranked third out of 30 funds in the UK Other...

Unit trust performance tables.(Unit Trusts OEICs)
January 1, 2005... What the tables show The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 30 November 2004, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

Doing what he does best: Keiron Root meets Adrian Frost, a fund manager who prefers to spend his time managing income funds rather than other fund managers.(Fund Manager Profile)
January 1, 2005... Adrian Frost has one of the best long-term records among managers of income funds. His reputation was largely built during his time at Morgan Grenfell (subsequently Deutsche Asset Management and now DWS Investments), where he ran the group's UK...

Investment trust best buys.(Investment Trusts Monitor)
January 1, 2005... What Investment asks three investment trust specialists to recommend their favourite investment trust shares for a cautious, a balanced and an aggressive investment CAUTIOUS OPTION Nick Greenwood, head of investment trusts at iimia,...

Investment trust performance tables.(Investment Trusts)
January 1, 2005... What the tables show The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 30 November 2004, on a mid-market basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

Best ways to save.(Reference)
January 1, 2005... Best ways to save Telephone Account Number/Website INSTANT-ACCESS BRANCH ACCOUNTS Lambeth BS 0500 200020 Premier Save Scarborough BS...

Personal pension annuity rates.(Reference)
January 1, 2005... 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)
January 1, 2005... Top-performing unit-linked pensions Five years to 30 November 2004. Results of 100 [pounds sterling] invested on an offer-to-bid basis with gross income reinvested. Name Value Rank ...

Financial contacts.
January 1, 2005... Financial Contacts ISA Directory NAME OF NAME & ADDRESS SCHEME Abbey National[R] Investments ISA Tel: 0800 30 20 30 Safety Plus Growth...

Season's greetings.(Essential guide to ISAs)
January 1, 2005... Since the spring of 2000 the first three months of the year have been regarded by the t financial services industry as the ISA season. Individual savings accounts (ISAs) were first offered in 1999 and the last three months of the 1999/2000 tax...

Know your limit: the rules surrounding ISAs are in a state of flux. What Investment looks at the allowances available until April 2005--and beyond.(Essential guide to ISAs)
January 1, 2005... Since ISAs were first made available in April 1999 the Treasury has tinkered with the rules and regulations and further changes are in the pipeline. In April this year the insurance element will be scrapped and as of April 2006 the limits on...

IFAs choose ISAs: you've decided to use your ISA wrapper to house funds, but which ones should you pick? Jo Tura asks IFAs to name their favourites.(Essential guide to ISAs)
January 1, 2005... In April 2004 the government abolished the 10 per cent tax credit on dividend payments for basic-rate taxpayers. That means that for investors who pay basic-rate tax, there is no real income tax benefit to using an ISA to house income-focused...

The ultimate ISA: in the first of a three-part series, Harvey Jones explains what self-select ISAs have to offer.(Essential guide to ISAs)
January 1, 2005... Self-select ISAs are the ultimate form of ISA. They allow you to use your annual 7,000 [pounds sterling] ISA allowance to the maximum by assembling a portfolio of individual equities, investment funds, bonds and even cash within the same...

ISAs for savers: sheltering cash on deposit from the taxman can mean a welcome boost in interest.(Essential guide to ISAs)
January 1, 2005... While cash ISAs don't offer the potential for capital growth that should, in theory, make equities a better holding in the ISA wrapper, they do offer valuable benefits to tax-paying savers. "Savings rates aren't massive at the moment, so if you...

Making a move: don't waste your ISA allowance--if returns are bad it might be time to consider a change.(Essential guide to ISAs)
January 1, 2005... Like all holdings the assets held within your ISA or PEP should be regularly reviewed. If they are no longer delivering what you want, it could be time to look for a new provider. The transfer process should be fairly straightforward. To...