What Investment articles from July 2005

What Investment archives from July 2005

Welcome back my friends ...(Comment)
July 1, 2005... Hi there. I know, I know--you're thinking: "Wot? Yet another editor of What Investment?" Yep. And, all things being well, I'll be here for some considerable time. For those of you who don't know me, well, for almost five years, I was the...

Revenue gets ghoulish.(July news)
July 1, 2005... The investigative arm of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Special Compliance Office (SCO), has launched a new initiative to crosscheck inheritance tax returns with income tax returns made during the deceased's lifetime to ensure they are...

Free equity release guide.(July news)
July 1, 2005... A free guide to equity release mortgages has been launched by the financial services arm of the charity Age Concern. The guide gives information on the UK's fastest-growing financial services product, with in-depth comparisons of lifetime...

Inflation hits the elderly.(News Round-up)
July 1, 2005... Pensioners face higher inflation than those of working age, a new study by Alliance Trusts has found. The Inflation and Age study by the Alliance Trusts' economics team shows inflation increasing with age, with the biggest difference in...

Invest ethically with EIRIS.(News Round-up)
July 1, 2005... As new figures show that the amount of money invested ethically has reached a record high, the Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS) has announced it is to build a network of individual investors--Investors for Change--to help further...

Hottest day--for investors.(News Round-up)
July 1, 2005... The most profitable day of the year for the UK stock market will be 11 August, according to stocks and shares website ADVFN. Although meteorologists believe 12 August is the day a heatwave will hit the UK, ADVFN research shows that 11...

A round-up of the comings and goings in the fund management world.(Manager moves)
July 1, 2005... One of the more senior fund management figures to move recently is Gary Clarke, formerly manager of the Gartmore European Focus Fund, who is to join Schroders' european equities team in September. He will be replaced as manager of Gartmore...

Top ten funds.(July news)
July 1, 2005... UNIT TRUSTS One year 1 Deutsche GloSpec UK Bd + D 193.74 2 MLIIF Latin Amer A2 USD 155.86 3 JI Latin America Equity 153.88 4 First State Indian Subcontl 153.58 5 Schroder India ...

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.(July news)
July 1, 2005... * JPM Asset Management Designed for investors looking for a core holding in their portfolio that will provide higher returns than those offered by cash deposit accounts, but who are concerned about the volatility of investing in a largely...

Artemis.(Product of the month)
July 1, 2005... The Artemis Strategic Bond Fund aims to achieve the best total returns possible from a portfolio invested in a whole range of bonds and boasts an investment approach different from many of its competitors. Rather than choose just one area to...

Lies, damned lies and inflation: Keiron Root explains why the inflation figures might not be all they seem.(Lessons from history)
July 1, 2005... A couple of months ago, I looked at the recent history of inflation in this country, suggesting that our current circumstances were extremely unusual and the normal level of base rates is somewhat higher than we currently enjoy. Well, as I...

A test of faith: millions of endowment mortgage holders are facing projected shortfalls and urgently need to reassess their situation. Nick Sudbury weighs up the options.(Endowments)
July 1, 2005... At their peak in 1988 endowment mortgages accounted for over 80 per cent of all new home loans. The theory was that homebuyers commit to making monthly payments into an endowment, typically a with-profits policy from an insurance company, and...

To market, to market: gone are the days of buying shares from a pinstripe-suited stockbroker. Simon Hildrey shows how technology has changed how we buy into the stock market.(Technology)
July 1, 2005... It has never been easier for you to invest in companies listed on the stock market. Buying and selling shares is now relatively easy, cheap and quick via online trading sites. There has also been a proliferation of information about individual...

What Investment Awards 2005.(Fund awards: 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Now in their 21st year, the What Investment Fund Management Awards aim to reward those fund managers who have delivered outperformance to investors through good times and bad. Over recent years, we have seen a series of dramatic changes, from...

Unit Trust Management Group: the winner of the Unit Trust Management Group of the Year Award is GAM.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Unit Trust Management Group of the Year WINNER GAM Ltd The interesting thing about the top performers in our main open-ended fund category this year is that the big fund management brands are conspicuous by their absence. The top...

Specialist Unit Trust Group of the Year: another close finish sees Rathbones emerge ahead of Lazards.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Specialist Unit Trust Group of the Year WINNER Rathbone Unit Trust Management Ltd The Specialist Unit Trust Award focuses on fund management companies with unit trusts invested in overseas markets and specific sectors of the stock...

Unit Trust Manager of the Year: Framlington's small-cap star Roger Whiteoak emerges as a clear winner of our individual fund manager award.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Unit Trust Manager of the year WINNER Framlington UK Smaller Companies While most of our fund management award categories this year saw closely fought contests, there was little doubt that Roger Whiteoak's Framlington UK Smaller...

Most Consistent Unit Trust of the Year: for the second year running, a special situations fund displays the greatest consistency, but this year it's Rathbones that takes the top prize.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Most Consistent Unit Trust of the Year WINNER Rathbone Special Situations The Most Consistent Unit Trust of the Year Award focuses on the performance of funds over a five-year period. One-year performance figures were run on a...

Best IT group: a very close contest for our main investment trust award sees Framlington edge out Glasgow in a photo finish.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Investment Trust Management Group of the Year WINNER Framlington Investment Management Ltd A dramatic outcome to our premier investment trust performance category, with none of last years top performers appearing in this year's...

Best IT generalist: another tight finish sees Artemis Alpha just hold off the challenge of Hansa Trust.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARRDS)
July 1, 2005... Generalist Investment Trust of the Year WINNER Artemis Alpha Trust Our Generalist Investment Trust category saw another closely fought contest and a complete change in the trusts at the top of the list. None of the leading trusts...

Specialist Investment Trust of the Year: again, the top Specialist Investment Trust of the Year award goes to Gartmore Irish Growth.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Specialist Investment Trust of the Year WINNER Garthmore Irish Growth Fund PLC For the second year running, Gartmore Irish Growth is a clear winner of the award for top Specialist Investment Trust of the Year. While our other...

Most Consistent Investment Trust of the Year: this year's winner is TR Property.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Most Consistent Investment Trust of the Year WINNER TR Property Investment Trust Plc In the closest of all of our fund management award results, TR Property just holds off the challenges of Aberforth Smaller Companies and Merrill...

Best Unit Trust Provider: our readers' choice for Best UT Provider is Invesco Perpetual.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Readership Awards Best Unit Trust Provider WINNER Invesco Perpetual We now turn to the first of our Readership Awards for 2005, the Best Unit Trust Provider. This award looks to recognise the providers who stand out from the...

Best Investment Trust Provider: your choice for Best Investment Trust Provider is Aberdeen Asset Managers.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Readership Awards Best Investments Trust Provider WINNER Aberdeen Asset Managers Aberdeen Asset Managers caps a strong period of recovery by capturing our What Investment Readers' Award for Best Investment Trust Provider. ...

Best Stockbroker: this year, What Investment readers' choice for Best Stockbroker is Halifax Share Dealing.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Readership Awards Best Stockholder WINNER Halifax Share Dealing Complacency is not a word to be bandied around the headquarters of Halifax Share Dealing, one of the biggest telephone and internet services in the UK. Many...

Best Independent Financial Adviser: top of the IFA pops this year is Hargreaves Lansdown.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Readership Awards Best Independent Financial Adviser WINNER Hargreaves Lansdown It's hard to flick through the weekend personal finance pages without seeing this year's IFA category winner, Hargreaves Lansdown. Whether it's...

Best Pension Provider: our readers' choice for Best Pension Provider is Prudential.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Readership Awards Best Pension Provider WINNER Prudential Pensions--and the companies that sell them and manage the actual funds--haven't enjoyed the best of relationships with the slice of the public that invests in them....

Best Customer Service Provider: our readers choice for Best Customer Service Provider is Alliance & Leicester.(What INVESTMENT 2005 AWARDS)
July 1, 2005... Customer service is one of those areas that, like someone's favourite food, means completely different things to different people. To some, good customer service means a bank that puts more staff behind the counter at lunchtime and makes sure...

Grabbing tax breaks: we work to pay our taxes, so we should always make the most of whatever breaks the taxman allows us. Jo Tura looks at some of the opportunities.(Tax-efficient investing)
July 1, 2005... At the most basic level, tax breaks are offered on two methods of saving: ISAs and pensions. ISAs, or Individual Savings Accounts, allow taxpayers to put aside 7,000 [pounds sterling] of cash or qualifying investments tax-free per year. If you...

Global equities: growth not politics will drive European markets: each month, What Investment speaks to fund managers focusing on four different asset classes and asks them to reveal the key issues currently driving their stock-selection decisions.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
July 1, 2005... The rejection of the proposed European constitution by both the French and Dutch electorates had an immediate impact on the currency markets, with the euro falling against other major currencies, but the effect on the equity markets was less...

Brazilian interest rates--20 July.(KEY INDICATOR)
July 1, 2005... The Brazilian economy grew at its slowest pace in over a year during the first quarter of 2005, reflecting the impact of steadily rising interest rates since September 2004. The main motive behind the rate increases was not to put the brakes on...

China's gross domestic product--22 July.(KEY INDICATOR)
July 1, 2005... The yuan has recently featured prominently in the news with growing calls for it to be freed from its peg to the US dollar. Not surprisingly, the US has been flexing its muscles most in this respect, reflecting the impact of the peg on...

Bonds: European government bonds under pressure.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
July 1, 2005... The dramatic drop in the value of the euro following the French rejection of the EU constitution caused ripples in the bond markets. Laurence Chieze-Devmer, investment strategist at AXA Investment Managers, argues that: "In the short run,...

Commodoties: Chinese demand still underpins prices.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
July 1, 2005... David Whitten, head of global resources at First State Investments, notes that the global resources market was down again in April, as investors took profits on concerns that the global economy may be slowing. Rising global interest rates and a...

Property: strong investor demand.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
July 1, 2005... The Investment Property Databank (IPD) marked the publication of its first pan-European index of commercial property performance with a review that highlighted the strong returns from the asset class in 2004. Euro-denominated earnings from...

Real estate sector view.(UK SHARES)
July 1, 2005... The Real Estate sector was one of the stars of 2004 and that bull run has continued into 2005, but how long can it last? Property investment companies, of which there are almost 50 quoted on the LSE's main market, are normally valued in...

Real estate share view.(UK SHARES)
July 1, 2005... The biggest property stock of them all is listed on the FTSE 100: Land Securities. Currently at 14.51 [pounds sterling] a share, the company is capitalised at 6.8 billion [pounds sterling]. Last year, the company sold its industrial properties...

Market insider: Spain: continuing our series providing a fundamental analysis of a region from an economic and political perspective. This month, Michael Wilson considers the outlook for Spain.(WORLD MARKETS)
July 1, 2005... You can hardly have missed all the gloomy talk about Europe's problems. The collapse of the European constitution has kiboshed the euro, we're told, and euroland's industries are now entering a period of crisis because they think their...

Market view: Tom Winnifrith considers the outlook for UK shares.(UK SHARES)
July 1, 2005... If you follow blue chips, May was not a month in which to sell and go away. If you follow the AIM index, you might wish you had never bought in the first place. The FTSE 100 gained 3.4 per cent on the month to close on a month high of 4,994.9...

European sector review: Hilary Cook, director of investment strategy at Barclays Private Clients, examines the prospects for the European Food Processing and Production sector.
July 1, 2005... At a time when further growth in developed markets is appearing limited, for European and UK firms operating in the Food Processing and Production sector, in the years ahead, emerging markets could now hold the key for further expansion. At...

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)
July 1, 2005... CAUTIOUS OPTION Anna Bowes, savings and investments manager at Chase de Vere Investments, highlights a new fund to be launched at the beginning of July as a possible option for investors who don't want to take too much risk. The JP Morgan...

Unit trust performance tables.(UNIT TRUSTS OEICs)
July 1, 2005... What the tables shows The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 31 May 2005, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

Proceeding with caution: Keiron Root meets a fund manager who combines an eye for value with an aversion to risk.(FUND MANAGER: PROFILE)
July 1, 2005... Alastair Mundy is one of the growing band of fund managers charged with looking after portfolios that try to reduce investment risk by holding a combination of equities and bonds, something he is well qualified to do having run both types of...

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)
July 1, 2005... CAUTIOUS OPTION Daniel Lockyer, investment trust analyst at iimia, suggests an old favourite from amongst the generalist trusts as a solid option for investors who don't want to take too much risk. The shares of Alliance Trust are ranked...

Investment trust performance tables.(INVESTMENT TRUSTS)
July 1, 2005... Investment trust performance tables What the tables show The figures showthe value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 31 May 2005, on a mid-market basis with net income reinvested. Funds are...

Personal pension annuity rates.(REFERENCE)
July 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...

Best ways to save.(REFERENCE)
July 1, 2005... Best ways to save Telephone Account Number/Website INSTANT-ACCESS BRANCH ACCOUNTS Lambeth BS 0500 200020 Premier Save Stroud & Swindon BS ...

Top-performing unit-linked pensions.(REFERENCE)
July 1, 2005... Top-performing unit-linked pensions Five years to 31 May 2005. Results of 100 [pounds sterling] invested on an offer-to-bid basis with gross income reinvested. Name Value Rank ...

ISA directory.(Financial Contacts)(Directory)
July 1, 2005... Financial Contacts ISA Directory NAME & ADDRESS NAME OF TYPE SCHEME Abbey National[R] Investments ISA Stocks & Shares Tel: 0800 30 20 30 ...