What Investment articles from March 2003

What Investment archives from March 2003

Universally challenged.(Comment)
March 1, 2003... Your starter for ten: can you tell me, for ten points, who it is that is managing your money? OK, OK so you know the fund management group and the name and general objectives of the fired. You probably even know the sector in which the...

Web offering.(News)
March 1, 2003... MX Moneyextra has launched an online share-dealing service in partnership with the Share Centre. The service is tailored to individuals who trade occasionally--MX Trader--and to more active traders--MX Frequent Trader. Both services offer fast...

Five-star investment.(News)
March 1, 2003... Newcastle Building Society has launched the Guaranteed Five-Star Bond, a five-year fixed-term building society account offering a return linked to a diversified portfolio of top-performing five-star S&P Micropal-rated active equity and bond...

New star pounces.(News Round-up)
March 1, 2003... New Star Asset Management is to take over the management of six of troubled Aberdeen Asset Management's retail funds. The deal includes Aberdeen Fixed Interest, Aberdeen High Yield Bond, Aberdeen Sterling Bond, Aberdeen Equity Income, Aberdeen...

In the dark.(Back To Basic)
March 1, 2003... The real barrier to investment in the UK is a public misunderstanding of the investment basics, according to research by Insight investments. As ISA season kicks oft, Insight is urging the financial industry not to alienate consumers with...

Savers beware.(News)
March 1, 2003... Savings rates in the UK continued to fall despite the Bank of England base rate's remaining unchanged from November 2001 to February 2003, according to financial data provider Moneyfacts. The recent cut will probably make things worse. The...

Protected forever.(News)
March 1, 2003... Zurich Financial Services has launched a product that it claims is the first protected fund to be offered on a continuous basis. The Protected Profits fund invests in a combination of equities and cash, with a maximum of 70 per cent...

The urge to merge.(News)
March 1, 2003... Artemis Fund Managers has confirmed that it is to merge a number of ex-ABN AMRO Fund Managers funds into similar Artemis funds. This effectively concludes the acquisition of ABN AMRO Fund Managers by Artemis Investment Management last September...

Portfolio planning.(News)
March 1, 2003... Fidelity has launched the Portfolio Planner tool on its website www.fundsnetwork.co.uk. The tool allows investors to assess what portfolio strategy they should follow and the amount they should be saving in order to reach their ultimate goal....

SVR changes.(News)
March 1, 2003... Standard Life has announced a further reduction in values paid on withdrawals from its with-profits fund following a significant increase in withdrawal activity. Conventional life policies will now be subject to a surrender value reduction...

Destination UK.(News)
March 1, 2003... Barclays Private Clients has launched Destination UK, a package of current account, debit card, automatic overdraft facility, credit card and exclusive UK tax advice service specifically designed to help international clients to make the most...

Taking issue: Nic Cicutti reports on the latest issues rocking the world of finance.(March News)
March 1, 2003... My dad is almost 85, bless him. A flew years ago, through a mystical process that not even he fully understands but somehow involved a visit to his high-street bank branch, my dad found himself the proud investor in a small range of equity...

Top ten funds.(News)
March 1, 2003... Unit trusts One year Performance 1 Merrill Lynch Gold & Gen 143.24 2 Deutsche GblSpec Pass Euro Gov Bd B 112.19 3 JPMF Nat Resources A Acc ...

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.
March 1, 2003... * DWS DWS has launched the DWS UK Equity Income Plus fund, which aims to produce a return that is 130 per cent of the yield of the FTSE All-Share. The portfolio represents a concentrated portfolio of around 40 stocks equally weighted at...

Insight Investment.(Product of the month)
March 1, 2003... Insight Investment has rolled out the Insight Investment UK Dynamic fund. The fund will be managed by Nail Pegrum, who joined Insight from M&G in December 2002. The UK Dynamic fund will invest in a concentrated portfolio of 25 to 40 undervalued...

Newcastle Building Society.(Also launching this month ...)
March 1, 2003... Newcastle Building Society has launched the Guaranteed Property Bond offering 100 per cent of the average growth of the Halifax House Price Index during the five-year term. All your capital is 100 per cent guaranteed. Interest of 4 per cent...

Britannia Building Society.(Also launching this month ...)
March 1, 2003... Britannia Building Society is offering a five-year guaranteed capital equity bond paying 6.16 per cent AER. The bond will pay 35 per cent gross should the FTSE rise or remain the same at the end of the five-year term. Your original capital is...

Leeds & Holbeck Building Society.(Also launching this month ...)
March 1, 2003... Leeds & Holbeck Building Society has launched the Five-Year Access Bond offering guaranteed rising returns up to 5 per cent together with access to the funds. The bond pays 4 per cent in each of the first three years and 5 per cent in years...

Managers on the move: should you stay or should you go? Keiron Root looks into the reasons behind recent fund manager moves.(Fund managers)
March 1, 2003... It's not so much a case of fund managers on the move this month as funds on the move. The New Year was only a few days old when New Star, the rapidly expanding fund management house set up by John Duffield (formerly of Jupiter), announced it...

Star v teams: who is managing your money? What Investment looks at the different approaches to fund management.(Focus: stars v teams)
March 1, 2003... Over the past few years, successful performers in the world of fund management have found themselves blessed--or cursed--by the star fund manager tag. In the US, management houses have revelled in the ability to market their funds on the...

The trouble with splits: in the third part of our series on investment trusts, Tim Cockerill assesses the splits debacle.(Splits update)
March 1, 2003... Split-capital investment trusts (splits) have been facing testing times of late. The press has hounded some of the higher-profile offenders in this market and investors have been clamouring for compensation alter making astronomical losses. To...

Invest for 50 [pounds sterling] a month: if you can only afford to commit 50 [pounds sterling] a month to an investment plan, where will you get the best return if you embrace 'average' risk? Keiren Root gets out his chequebook.(Regular savings)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2003... Not everybody is in a position to put large sums of money into the stock market, even if they would wish to after its grim performance over the past three years. An attractive alternative for those wishing to build up their investments over a...

Stamping down on tax: David Harris explains how understanding the taxation of collective investments can help your investment plans.(Taxation of collectives)
March 1, 2003... No investment decision should be made purely for tax reasons. However, the success of Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and their predecessors shows how important a 'tax-free' label is in attracting investors. Such is the resolve to stop the...

P-p-pick up a personal pension: Nick Sudbury assesses the attractions of personal pensions and considers the alternatives.(Slits update)
March 1, 2003... Even in the context of what is turning out to be a period of widespread cynicism with financial products in general, pensions have had a particularly bad press. The combination of rising costs, the mind-boggling complexity and the legacy of...

Roll-up, roll-up: What Investment highlights what's on offer this ISA season.(Best ISA options)
March 1, 2003... Every year, the date 5 April (or thereabouts) sows fear in the hearts of otherwise hardy souls. Seemingly normal human beings lock themselves away with key feature documents, performance data and press commentary in a brave attempt to come up...

Going for broker: What Investment looks at the main factors affectin8 your choice of a stockbroker.(Q & A)
March 1, 2003... Traditionally, a stockbroker bought and sold shares on your behalf, often advising you which companies to buy and sell. With the rise in electronic share-dealing--although technically all share trades still have to go through a stockbroker--the...

Better coverage: Covered warrants offer a potentially low-cost way to play the stock market, which should make them ideal for online investors.
March 1, 2003... When the UK's covered warrant market was launched last year by the London Stock Exchange, it was intended to provide a mechanism for private investors to use a flexible, low-cost, derivative-based means of gaining exposure to certain companies,...

United Kingdom: it's all in the money.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... The persistent weakness in the US dollar could cause problems for UK investors. "The failure by UK strategists to foresee the negative market trends of the past three years does not inspire confidence in similar predictions for 2003," says...

United States: tax and war.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... Tax-cutting proposals are likely to provide a long-term stimulus to the economy while fears of war provoke short-term caution President Bush's tax-cutting proposals should have a significant and positive effect on US companies in 2003,...

Europe: nothing to shout about.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... Europe remains one of the weakest global economies but the valuation argument is a strong one "Europe will experience the weakest economic recovery outside Japan in the coming year," says Davina Curling, manager of the ISIS European and...

Far East: a safe story.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... Despite the prevailing uncertain global outlook, the region's attractive valuations are expected to provide a degree of investor protection. "The Pacific, excluding Japan markets, finished 2002 lower, following weaker economic statistics...

Japan: ruts and mires.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... Corporate top-line figures have been poor and trade with western economies continues to unwind "Japan is at yet another crossroads," says Keith Skeoch, chief investment officer at Standard Life Investments. "The Nikkei 225 Index is today...

Emerging markets: a three-year view.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... Growth in emerging markets continues but other markets are better poised to benefit from a global upturn in 2003 The emerging markets of central and Eastern Europe are suddenly centre of attention in the world of investment. "Eastern Europe...

Market insider: South Africa: continuing our series providing a fundamental analysis of a region from an economic and political perspective. This month, Michael Wilson considers the outlook for South Africa.(World Markets)
March 1, 2003... When you wish, be sure to wish carefully because you might get what you want. South Africa's rise to stock market fame in the last 15 months may have put a smile on the face of the people who troop into the gleaming new Johannesburg stock...

Market view.(UK Shares)
March 1, 2003... January was another disastrous month for the markets. So much for the much hoped for New Year rally. Attempting any sectoral analysis is pretty pointless as every single FTSE sector ended 4 February lower than it was on 3 January. As a...

UK stock performance.(UK Shares)
March 1, 2003... Rank Company Weight in 1 Month Name Index Return TOP 20 FTSE All-Share 1 Regus 0.00% 73.17% 2 Safeway 0.33% 49.12% ...

FTSE 100 index.(UK Shares)
March 1, 2003... FTSE 100 INDEX Stock 1 month Rank 1 year Rank 3i Group 88.65 63 64.96 67 Abbey National 77.61 97 40.98 92 Alliance & Leicester ...

Index constituent rankings FTSE 100.(UK Shares)
March 1, 2003... INDEX CONSTITUENT RANKINGS FTSE 100 Rank Stock Price Dividend Dividend Yield Cover 1 BP 382 4.16% ...

Housebuilders sector view.(UK Shares)
March 1, 2003... At the end of a conference I chaired early in February 12 'experts' were asked for their view of house price increases over the next year. Forecasts ranged from +5 per cent to -50 per cent. So take your pick. The consensus was for around -15...

Housebuilders share view.(UK Shares)
March 1, 2003... Personally I am a bear of house prices although I would accept the argument of my friend Mark Slater that the quoted sector already discounts a very bearish two-year outlook indeed. But if there is one stock about which I would be especially...

European sector review: Hilary Cook, director of investment strategy at Barclays Private Clients, examines the prospects for the European consumer goods sector.(Stock Market Review)
March 1, 2003... Over 90 years old and not a wrinkle in sight--perhaps not the case for the average nonagenarian when they look in the mirror, but certainly true for France's L'Oreal. The world leader in cosmetics, the company has been delivering...

European stock performance.(Stock Market Review)
March 1, 2003... EUROPEAN STOCK PERFORMANCE Company Weight in 1 Month Rank Name Index Return Top 20 FTSE World Europe 1 Elan Corporation ...

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)
March 1, 2003... CAUTIOUS OPTION Adrian Shandley, managing director of financial advisers Premier Wealth Management, points cautious investors in the direction of the ISIS Extra Income Bond fund. The fund is ranked 17th out of 24 funds in the UK Other Bond...

Performance tables.(Units Trusts OEICs)
March 1, 2003... What the tables show The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 31 December 2003, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

Stacking up the income: Clive Beagles explains to Keiron Root why equity income funds are the new growth funds.(Fund Manager Profile)
March 1, 2003... I am sure that any regular reader of What Investment will not need reminding that the past three years have been very depressing times for stock market investors. This has been particularly true for investors looking for income, as dividend...

Investment trust best buys: What Investment asks three independent financial advisers to recommend their favourite investment trusts for a cautious, a balanced and an aggressive investment.(Investment Trusts Monitor)
March 1, 2003... CAUTIOUS OPTION Kenneth Harper, investment trust analyst at Bell Lawrie White, suggests a slightly unusual generalist trust as a cautious option. He opts for RIT Capital Partners, which is ranked fourth out of 31 trusts in the Global...

Performance tables.(Investment Trusts)
March 1, 2003... What the tables show The figures show the value of 100 [pounds sterling] over six months, one, three, five and ten years to 31 December 2003, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

That accounts for it.(Money clinic)
March 1, 2003... Having just got a small windfall to invest, I looked on your 'Best ways to save' page for the top no-notice accounts. Of the 18 accounts listed at different balance levels, 17 are internet accounts. I am sure that I am not the only one of your...

Shop soiled?(Money clinic)
March 1, 2003... I contacted the FSA in November about nay concern, detailed below. To date I have not received any reply (except an acknowledgement saying they have a large backlog--very helpful). However, it does occur to me that it may be of considerable...

All change please.(Money clinic)
March 1, 2003... Last month, you featured a letter regarding the lack of faith in Aberdeen Asset Management as a manager of retail unit and investment trusts. I now see in the national press that the retail arm of Aberdeen has been taken over by New Star Asset...

Best ways to save.(Reference)
March 1, 2003... NO-NOTICE ACCOUNTS Company Account Gross Name Rate Balance of 500 [pounds sterling] Abbey National eSaver ** ...

Personal pension annuity rates.(Reference)
March 1, 2003... 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)
March 1, 2003... Top-performomg unit-linked pensions Name Value Rank Balanced Managed Skandia Professional Deutsche 103.61 1 SJP THSP Managed ...