What Investment articles from November 2005

What Investment archives from November 2005

Do you feel poorer?(Comment)
November 1, 2005... It can sometimes appear that the UK economy is being run on behalf of the young and financially feckless. Up to a few weeks ago, I just assumed that current economic conditions--historically low interest rates, low inflation, cheap consumer...

Falling deposit rates.(News Round-up)
November 1, 2005... The percentage of accounts now failing to provide basic and higher-rate taxpayers with positive real rates of return after tax and inflation is now the highest since May, according to a new survey of deposit accounts conducted by IFA Bates...

Pushy salesmen.(News Round-up)
November 1, 2005... Forceful, commission-based sales tactics and questionable quality of advice is increasing the risk of older homeowners being inappropriately channelled into equity release schemes, warns Age Concern Enterprises, the trading arm of the UK's...

Post no bills.(News Round-up)
November 1, 2005... More than 27 million bills posted through our letterboxes remain unopened as Brits let essential chores such as keeping their personal finances in check slip by the wayside, according to research commissioned by Visa UK. According to the...

F&C Asset Management.(Manager moves: A round-up of the comings and goings in the fund management world)
November 1, 2005... F&C Asset Management has announced that its chief executive, Howard Carter, is to retire at the end of this year, handing over to his current deputy chief executive, Alain Grisay. Meanwhile, F&C Asset Management has recruited a team of five UK...

Britannic Asset Management.(Manager moves: A round-up of the comings and goings in the fund management world)
November 1, 2005... Britannic Asset Management is launching another boutique fund management operation, focusing on high-alpha UK funds. It will be a 50/50 partnership with David Stevenson and Andrew Kelly, formerly with SVM. It is Britannic's second such venture,...

Newton has launched two new funds, one of which, Newton Global Higher Income, will be run by James Harries, who recently joined Newton from Veritas Asset Management.(Manager moves: A round-up of the comings and goings in the fund management world)
November 1, 2005... Newton has launched two new funds, one of which, Newton Global Higher Income, will be run by James Harries, who recently joined Newton from Veritas Asset Management. Meanwhile former M&G fund manager Charles Glasse, co-founder of investment...

Recent moves.(News Round-up)
November 1, 2005... Recent moves These are the latest fund manager moves from October 2005. 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... ...

Top ten funds.(November news)
November 1, 2005... UNIT TRUSTS One Year 1 JI Latin America Equity 175.32 2 JI India Equity 169.45 3 Th'needle Latin Amricn Gr C1 167.92 4 JI Eastern European Equity 161 5 SWIP...

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 costs, terms and conditions and investment opportunity.(November news)
November 1, 2005... Star rating guide ***** Outstanding value for money **** Good value compared to other investments *** Reasonable value, but there may be better opportunities elsewhere ** Below average * Poor * Old Mutual The...

Jupiter Unit Trust Managers.(Product of the month)
November 1, 2005... The Jupiter Merlin Balanced Portfolio is Jupiter's multi-manager Neptune Fund rebranded and launched for the retail market. The fund, originally a part-fettered investment vehicle primarily for present and former Jupiter staff, will be added to...

Mouldy old dough: the demise of a much-hyped investment scheme leads Keiron Root to consider what governs our attitude to risk.(Lesson from history)
November 1, 2005... This column has barely passed its first anniversary and already there is evidence that some of its themes are being proved sound ill the current investment market. In January, I looked at how fired management groups would be well advised to...

Not 'arf stockpickers: which UK shares will be hot in the coming 12 months? Will they all fall into one sector? Will they be blue chips, mid-cap, small-cap, micro-cap? Rupert Walker asks ten experts--from stockbrokers to fund managers--to pick a share each and explain why they think their pick is a winner.(Top 10 Stock Picks)(Company Profile)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... Concern about the weakness of the UK economy over the next 19 months leads many investors to search for defensive or counter-cyclical shares, or, among the more adventurous, shares that have particular 'stories' to support them, irrespective of...

Go for growth: the promise of low-risk income growth is making distribution funds a popular option, with asset managers falling over themselves in a rush to launch distribution funds--or convert existing equity and bond funds into distribution funds.(Distribution funds)
November 1, 2005... Anyone who had their fingers burned during the last stock market crash will know all too well hat investing in a pure equity fund involves a certain amount of risk. The more cautious outlook of the last few years has led to a strong demand for...

The season's favoured region: often investors are amazed to discover, often after the event, that a particular region or country has gone ballistic. So how do you spot the next big region? What are the economic factors to look out for? Where do the experts feel may be the 'next big thing'?(Global hotspots)
November 1, 2005... The world is a large place, filled with areas to invest in--regions that initally might not have been typical safe domestic or developed markets. While good diversification is paramount to avoid falling into the trap of ending up with all your...

Taking a SIPP.(Money clinic: A panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
November 1, 2005... I have been reading articles recently suggesting that it is possible to purchase a residential property using a personal pension plan in April 2006. I understand that currently commercial properties can be purchased through this means. I would...

Out of Africa.(Money clinic: A panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
November 1, 2005... Are there any investment trusts for East Africa? East Africa is an area of economic expansion--the population of Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique is about 90 million. If there are no investment trusts dedicated to this region, are there any that...

A point of consolidation.(Money clinic: A panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
November 1, 2005... I have three ISAs (stocks and shares) with three different brokers, opened in different tax years. I am considering moving them all to a single provider. Are there are reasons why I shouldn't do this? Tony Roland, Bishop Auckland, Co...

A basket of eggs.(Money clinic: A panel of independent experts answer readers' financial planning and investment queries)
November 1, 2005... I have a question that worries my wife and me quite a bit. We are starting to accumulate a portfolio of investments such as unit trusts and OEICs for our pension requirements. They are currently held for us by Hargreaves Lansdown, some in a...

Survival of the fittest: have technology funds and shares all surged back enough to make good the losses investors sustained? Or has the stock-market equivalent of Darwinism taken effect with only the strongest surviving? How likely is another meltdown?(Technology)
November 1, 2005... It is now more than five years since the technology boom of the late 1990s went bust, but investors are still nursing some nasty wounds. Now analysts are starting to talk up technology, media and telecom stocks, claiming TMT is ripe for a...

Riding the yield curve.(Fixed-interest investments)
November 1, 2005... After the recent rate cut, what's the outlook for fixed interest? We look at the background and recent history of fixed interest and assess your current options, Blue-chip corporate bonds, high-yield junk bonds or government gilts? Is...

Global equities: a tale of two elections: each month, What Investment speaks to fund managers and analysts focusing on four different asset classes, and asks them to reveal the key issues currently driving their stock-selection decisions.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
November 1, 2005... The Old Mutual Global Dynamic Fund, which actively allocates between five asset classes--equities, bonds, hedge funds, property and cash--is currently over-weighted towards equities. Manager of the fund Tracey Lander says: "We remain overweight...

Bonds: tougher times for bond investors.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
November 1, 2005... There is a growing feeling among fixed-interest managers that returns from bonds will come under pressure. Paul Niven, Head of Strategy at F&C, suggests the two most important prices in the world are, arguably, the price of a barrel of oil and...

Commodities: demand: 1--supply: 0.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
November 1, 2005... Although most industrial commodities have enjoyed a sustained period of price increases, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) believes the world's natural resources industries--gold, mining and energy--are enjoying the best market...

Property: reverting to type.(ASSET ALLOCATION)
November 1, 2005... Stewart Cowe, property research manager at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP), suggests that continued growth in financial and business services will give a boost to office property. "The continued growth in service-sector employment...

Market insider Japan: continuing our series providing a fundamental analysis of a region from an economic and political perspective. This month, Michael Wilson considers the outlook for Japan.(WORLD MARKETS)
November 1, 2005... Junichoro Koizumi, Japan's prime minister, has got plenty to smile about these days. In September he won a landslide victory in a snap election which he'd called in a bid to get his political critics off his back, and to free the way for...

Market view: Tom Winnifrith considers the outlook for UK shares.(UK SHARES)
November 1, 2005... Another month goes by and the bull run continues. The FTSE 100 gained 3.4 per cent during September to take it up to 5,477.7--a four-year high. Admittedly this was almost all down to oils and mining stocks (together around 40 per cent of the...

Mining sector view.(UK SHARES)
November 1, 2005... Zinc and Copper are at record-year highs, gold is at multi-year highs as are the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs). This has been reflected in the City. For many years the mining sector comprised a handful of dull old blue chips, which offered...

Mining share view.
November 1, 2005... I have tipped blue-chip miners because I'm a modest bull of metal prices. I believe years of under-investment in new production combined with surging Chinese and Indian demand will push metal prices higher. But on the principle that elephants...

European sector review: Hilary Cook, director of investment strategy at Barclays Private Clients, looks at the rollercoaster that is the European Pharmaceuticals sector.(STOCK MARKET REVIEW)
November 1, 2005... Biotechnology is very much the sub-sector of the future within the wider pharmaceuticals industry, as increased funding pours into finding ways both to lengthen our lives and improve the quality of life we enjoy, However, as with all...

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)
November 1, 2005... CAUTIOUS OPTION Martyn Ingram, fund analyst at Investors' Partnership has an unusual suggestion for cautious investors. He argues that they should think about CF Ruffer Baker Steel, which is ranked 15 out of 35 funds in the Specialist...

Unit trust performance tables.(UNIT TRUSTS OEICs)
November 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 31 September 2005, on an offer-to-bid basis with net income reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

The third way: Keiron Root meets an income fund manager with a clearly defined investment approach.(FUND MANAGER: PROFILE)
November 1, 2005... Robin Geffen, chief investment officer and managing director of Neptune Investment Management, has already had a long and varied career in fund management, encompassing small cap and large cap, income and growth, UK, European, emerging market...

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)
November 1, 2005... CAUTIOUS OPTION Paul Harris, of stockbroker Goy Harris Cartwright, offers Merchants Trust as a suggestion for investors who do not want to take too much risk. This trust's shares are ranked 9 out of 17 in the UK Growth & Income sector over...

Investment trust performance tables.(INVESTMENT TRUSTS)
November 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 September 2005, on a midmarket basis with net incm reinvested. Funds are listed by sector so that you can...

Personal pension annuity rates.(REFERENCE)
November 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)
November 1, 2005... Best ways to save Telephone Number INSTANT-ACCESS BRANCH ACCOUNTS Stroud & Swindon BS 08457 252423 Scarborough BS 0845 056 0840 Buckinghamshire BS ...

Cash ISAs.(REFERENCE)
November 1, 2005... Company Notice Minimum % Interest or term deposit gross paid MINI CASH ISAs 1,000 [pounds sterling] Halifax None (H) 1 5.00% Yly...

TESSA-only ISAs.(REFERENCE)
November 1, 2005... TESSA-ONLY ISAs Company Notice Minimum % Interest or term deposit gross paid TESSA-ONLY ISAs 3,000 [pounds sterling] Halifax None (H) 1 ...

National savings & investments.(REFERENCE)
November 1, 2005... NATIONAL SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS Product Notice/ Minimum Term Deposit ACCOUNTS AND BONDS Easy Access Savings Instant 100 [pounds...

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

Financial contacts: ISA directory.
November 1, 2005... Financial Contacts ISA Directory NAME OF NAME & ADDRESS SCHEME Abbey National Investments ISA Tel: 0800 30 20 30 Safety...

Spread betting as a practical alternative to traditional share dealing.(The essential guide to trading strategies)
November 1, 2005... Spread betting companies have become one-stop shops for a variety of financial products. Before spread betting became widely available it would have been necessary to open at least three separate accounts with three different companies to trade...

Contracts for difference: Matthew Bristow, Trading Desk Manager at Pacific Continental Securities, explains that despite their recent introduction CFDs are proving a popular investment vehicle with UK investors.(The essential guide to trading strategies)
November 1, 2005... Since their inception in 1998, Contracts for difference (CFDs) have steadily increased in popularity with the UK investing public. A few years ago, CFDs accounted for only 2 per cent of all shares traded through the London Stock Exchange;...

Covered warrants.(The essential guide to trading strategies)
November 1, 2005... Covered warrants were launched by the London Stock Exchange in October 2002, and although the UK market is still relatively small it is already showing steady growth. Elsewhere in the world covered warrants have proved a major success story and...