Investment Adviser articles from April 2009

Investment Adviser archives from April 2009

Fantasy Fund Manager Q1 winner crowned.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Matthew Hall of Russell Investments was crowned winner of the JPMorgan Fantasy Fund Manager competition for the first quarter, winning an iPod Touch with his Thyke portfolio. Ian Hart of Unbiased Financial Analysis...

JO Hambro takes dim view of US response.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny But country still likely emerge from recession ahead of UK, says fund manager The US financial authorities have been completely misguided during the financial crisis, but the country is likely to still be the first...

Argonaut warns of danger to corp bonds.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Fears for the booming corporate bond market soared last week after a leading European equity investor suggested EU governments might force managers to swap bank debt for shares in a desperate bid to reduce banks'...

Focus: Avoid losses at retirement.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Michael Rudge Many of those close to retirement may face a drop in their standard of living, but there are ways to prevent this With the value of many pension pots having declined quickly, the coming years will be testing times...

OBSR awards four new A ratings and upgrades four funds.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice OBSR last week awarded four new A ratings and moved to adjust ratings on four other funds. The research house upgraded the Schroder US Small & Mid-Cap and US Smaller Companies funds from AA to AAA. The Old Mutual...

Vanguard appoints Nick Blake as head of retail sales.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Vanguard Investments UK, which is courting fee-based IFAs with low-cost products, has poached Nick Blake as head of retail sales after four years as head of sales at Standard Life's platform business. Tom Rampulla,...

Pinder launches share offer for Data Centre fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Pinder Fry & Benjamin has launched a new limited capacity share offer for its Data Centre fund, which has raised more than GBP50m since it was launched. The new share offer will allow the fund to increase its stake...

Multi-managers move to slash cash.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Shift away from cash increases as managers see brighter opportunities in equities Multi-managers have moved to cut their cash levels in favour of equities, yet still remain cautious about calling the bottom of the...

Fidelity gains backing for tax-credit plan.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston A campaign by Fidelity to reintroduce tax credits for dividends on shares held in equity Isas in this year's budget has gathered pace as 250 IFAs last week pledged their support. Gary Shaughnessy, UK managing...

London Central launches residential property fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny London Central Portfolio has launched a residential property fund for high-net-worth investors. The London Central Residential Recovery fund is a new vulture fund that will target prime properties for rental in...

Cru tackles suspension with damage limitation exercise.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny and Sharon Flaherty Cru Investment Management has put together an investment committee as it attempts to tackle the complete suspension of its fund range. The group was in and out of the news last week as it...

Dosset to join Henderson, but Webster to depart.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Roger Dossett, head of the New Star property team, has confirmed he will be joining Henderson, while Stuart Webster, manager of the group's GBP407m International Property fund, has opted not to join the company. ...

Octopus to launch multi-manager service.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Octopus Investments has announced it is launching a multi-manager service for advisers, despite the difficulties faced by IFAs in funding new products. Guy Myles, managing director at Octopus, said the firm would be...

Tokio Marine to launch Japan fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Tokio Marine Asset Management is to launch a Luxembourg-domiciled, Ucits III Japanese fund later this year as part of a wider push into Europe. The fund management subdivision of Tokio Marine Holdings, which claims...

Manish Bhatia to run Schroders funds.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Schroder Investment Management announced Manish Bhatia will now be running its Pacific, Asia Pacific, ISF Pacific and ISF India funds. Mr Bhatia joined Schroders's Hong Kong office in September, where he has worked...

Marlborough revamps its fund range.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Marlborough Group is reshuffling its fund range with the launch of a go-anywhere absolute return fund and the merger of its GBP6m UK Equity Growth fund into another of its vehicles. Last week, the group confirmed...

SLI launches European Equity Income fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Jim Robinson Standard Life Investments has launched a European Equity Income fund that aims to provide a yield of 115 per cent of the FTSE Europe ex UK index. SLI said the fund, which will be managed by Will James, would...

'Hedge fundsnot to blame', says Aima.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Jim Robinson The hedge fund industry's role in the current crisis - a "banking crisis" - has been marginal, according to Andrew Baker, chief executive of Aima. Reacting to the G20 summit in London last week, Mr Baker praised...

Sophis research uncovers risk changes.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Jim Robinson Research conducted by risk-management specialist Sophis has found that 63 per cent of UK asset managers believe risk-management requirements have changed due to recent market volatility. Further, nearly 70 per cent...

BoA Merrill Lynch talks up frontier markets.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny \They will not be first out of recession, but valuations remain attractive, says group The investment case for frontier markets remains strong despite the battering they have suffered over the last few months,...

BlackRock launches European Absolute Alpha fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Dominic Welling BlackRock has launched its European Absolute Alpha fund, which will use a similar investment model to BlackRock's UK Absolute Alpha fund and be managed by senior portfolio manager Vincent Devlin. BlackRock said...

Winterflood market abuse ruling upheld.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Sharon Flaherty FSA fines company GBP4m, but firm seeks permission to take case to Court of Appeal The FSA has won a market abuse case at the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal against Winterflood and two of its traders....

UK Zeros: A challenging and awkward sector.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Laura Hughes Since its launch five years ago, the UK Zeros sector has remained small The UK Zeros sector was established by the IMA in 2004 to house funds that had previously inhabited the - now-defunct - UK Other Bonds sector...

New Star price cut lifts confidence.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Henderson cuts acquisition price by GBP8m as several New Star managers pledge their allegiance on completion of the deal News that Henderson had knocked GBP8m off the price of its acquisition of New Star last week...

Out to lunch.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Hugo Greenhalgh At City restaurant Coq d'Argent last week it is fair to say the mood was more than merry. As protestors attempted to storm the Bank of England, 500ft up on the restaurant's balcony the sound of bottles being...

Interview: Jupiter's Edward Bonham Carter.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Hugo Greenhalgh Jupiter chief executive Edward Bonham Carter talks to Hugo Greenhalgh about taking responsibility for past performance and looking ahead Despite having arrived 20 minutes late, it is hard to dislike Edward...

Expert View: Time for a facelift or a spring-cleaning.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Daniel McAllister The investment world has changed, and multi-managers must adapt too The credit crunch has turned the investment world on its head, and multi-managers are no exception. The unparalleled shift in market...

UKSif sees opportunity amid economic crisis.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Jim Robinson Lawmakers should see the current crisis as a "unique opportunity" to make the transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially sustainable economies, according to UKSif. At the London G20 summit last...

Diary: Little appeal in vanishing fortune.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Things can't get much worse for Brian Myerson, it would appear. Just a week after he was ousted from Principle Capital Investment Trust, the fund manager was in the news again over his GBP11m divorce. He had...

Evolve's Vandyck returns to Blue Oar.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Edward Vandyck, executive director at Evolve Capital, has returned to Blue Oar Capital and his former role as chief executive, following the takeover of the company at the end of last year. Mr Vandyck was one of...

City Spin: Andy Smith.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Andy Smith is manager of the Axa Framlington Biotech fund Which individual has been most influential on your career? When I came from SmithKline Beecham to work as an investor, my boss at 3i was Andy Musson. He...

Diary: Protest fever hits the City.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston It's nice to see the people at the Competitive Enterprise Institute really are competitive - organising a demonstration on the same day as last week's G20 protests. The Institute hoped to extol the benefits of...

Outside Edge: The problem with UK Zeros.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Chris Traulsen The UK Zeros sector is running out of zeros. It is home now to just five funds, two of which bill themselves as absolute return funds, and managers are well aware the issuance of zeros cannot support running pure UK...

S&P survey foresees weaker euro this year.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Fund managers predict euro will lose value against sterling amid economic gloom Global bond fund managers envisage the euro weakening against sterling against a backdrop of continuing economic hardship, according to...

Meteor and Intersolve work together to start deposit plan.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Meteor Capital Holdings has teamed up with actuarial firm Intersolve to launch a deposit plan for investors with interest linked to the FTSE 100. The Cashcade deposit account places investors' interest in a pooled...

Diary: No IA starters for 10.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Investment Adviser's highly prized knowledge of 19th-century Russian novelists and dead European composers was wasted at a pub quiz recently hosted by JPMorgan Asset Management. Questions about Father Ted, giant...

Diary: Stoakley ready for London run.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston It's marathon season again and people from all over the world are preparing to take part in the London edition later this month. Robin Stoakley, head of UK retail at Schroders, is braving the 26-mile slog through...

F&C property trust faces vote over continuation.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Trust prepares to hold EGN on future of fund for second time in four years Current economic headwinds continued to buffet investment trusts in the alternative asset sector after property funds faced more doom and...

Octopus and Prism team up to roll out funds.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Octopus Investments is partnering with Prism Capital Management to launch three risk-rated multi-manager, multi-asset funds for 10 IFA firms, with the possibility of adding more products in the future. The funds have...

Gam aims to buy Augustus.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Julius Baer subsidiary Gam has announced plans to acquire London-based fixed income and foreign exchange specialist Augustus Asset Managers. The deal will see Augustus return to the Julius Baer fold, after it was...

Barclays and CVC in talks over iShares.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Barclays has confirmed it is in talks with private equity group CVC Capital Partners over the sale of its ETF provider, iShares. A statement to the market confirmed CVC Capital had become the preferred bidder in...

Defaqto research shows popularity of wraps and platforms.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Advisers are keener than ever to engage with platforms and wrap technology, according to Defaqto's fifth annual review of the UK platform and wrap market. The research for the report, for which more than 500 IFAs...

CQS trust close to deal after trading suspension.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Oil and gas rig lender CQS Rig Finance investment trust has said it is close to reaching a new finance agreement with creditors, after trading in its shares on two stock exchanges was suspended last year. The fund...

Focus: Are investment trusts too complex to trade?
April 6, 2009... Byline: Daniel McAllister Analysts are in disgreement over investment trusts, with some complaining about their complexity and others maintaining they are an attractive investment option Investment trusts have financial advisers split....

Focus: Sipps.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Anna Lawlor Disillusionment with traditional asset classes is encouraging investors to consider alternatives. Sipp investors are not afraid of the big bad bear market and are becoming increasingly adventurous in their...

The virtues of Rioja's common reds and scarce whites.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Feargus O'Sullivan Time was when Rioja was the only Spanish wine with which British drinkers felt safe. With a jackbooted Franco holding his oily sway over the country, too many Spanish winemakers remained content to churn out...

Philip Coggan: The best returns come in bleakest times.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Phil Coggan It may take about a year, but once-popular property will become attractive again Property was the most popular category for unit trust and Oeic investors throughout 2006 following a wave of excitement ahead of the...

Focus: What's on the Asian investment horizon?
April 6, 2009... Byline: Angus Tulloch Following a strong start to 2009, recovery in Asia Pacific markets have faltered but the outlook remains encouraging As the global credit party has been long and wild, it is difficult not to expect the hangover...

F&C alters income fund's yield target.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice F&C Investments has changed the yield target on its High Income fund to 5 per cent from base rates plus 2 per cent after savage interest rate cuts have left investors struggling to find income. F&C said the previous...

Blue Sky and Keydata launch income plans.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny and Dominic Welling Two new income plans came on the market last week, from Blue Sky Asset Management and Keydata Investment Services, as investors continue to seek steady income during the downturn. Blue Sky...

Allianz reconditions fund to adapt to tough times.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Newly rebranded Allianz RCM European Income Equity fund to pursue European dividend yields Allianz Global Investors is hoping to offer investors some respite from the current market turmoil with the launch of the...

Gartmore hopeful for small caps.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Despite small caps being one of the worst-hit sectors during the current financial meltdown, it could be on the cusp of a recovery, according to Gartmore's Gervais Williams. Mr Williams, senior investment manager...

Analyst: Baring Asset Management.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Stephen Wilmot Baring Asset Management's Marino Valensise and Rod Aldridge talk to Stephen Wilmot about emerging markets and a multi-asset product launch Everyone knows Barings. The banking name dates back to the 1760s, but...

New Aquila fund to invest in farms.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston German alternative investment company Aquila Capital has launched a new farm property development fund, with the help of former Cargill executives. The AC Agri Opportunity fund, to be managed by Detlef Schoen, is...

IMA reports strong inflows for UK-based funds.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny & Dominic Welling Bond funds - especially corporates - main drivers behind boost for net retail sales Net retail sales for UK-based funds increased rapidly over the past year from GBP271.2m in February 2008 to...

Skandia rolls out global equity fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston and James Kenny Fund to provide access to selection of investment managers focused on regions or countries Skandia has launched a new manager of managers global equity fund for investors who want to grow their...

Edhec and Casam team up on ETFs.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny The Edhec Risk and Asset Management Research Centre has teamed up with Credit Agricole Structured Asset Management to create a new research chair to study ETFs and their use as part of a core-satellite approach to asset...

Tokio Marine to advise on Nordea Asia fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Asian investment specialist firm Tokio Marine Asset Management International (TMAI) has been appointed as investment adviser for the Nordea 1 - Far Eastern Equity fund. Nordea Investment Funds has changed the...

T Rowe Price embarks on new strategy.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Firm's new plan would be based on its global all-cap strategy, which closed last year T Rowe Price Global Investment Services has launched a new global large-cap equity strategy as part of its Sicav range to...

Stick shifted to concentrate on Rathbones fubnd.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Skandia Investment Group has awarded a mandate in its UK Best Ideas fund to Cartesian managers Andrew Kelly and David Stevenson, replacing Rathbone Unit Trust Management's Carl Stick. Mr Stick was removed from the...

AIC urges more shareholder participation in running listed firms.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston The AIC has thrown its weight behind calls for greater shareholder involvement in the running of listed companies, but saod more research on the most effective methods needed to be done. Daniel Godfrey,...

Analyst: Premier.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Stephen Wilmot Premier Asset Management's Paul Branigan talks to Stephen Wilmot about the 'headaches' associated with fund of hedge funds, and trying to exit less liquid holdings Paul Branigan admits Premier Absolute Growth is...

Marlborough to launch absolute return fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Marlborough Group is using Hargreave Hale, one of its external managers, to launch a go-anywhere absolute return fund. Giles Hargreave, who runs Marlborough's Special Situations, UK Micro Cap Growth and UK Leading...

First State to launch Latin America fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston First State is set to launch a new Latin America fund after being approached by investors in its Global Emerging Markets fund who wanted more exposure to the region. The new fund aims to take advantage of low...

Vanguard names Nick Blake head of retail sales.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Vanguard Investments UK has appointed Nick Blake head of retail sales. Tom Rampulla, managing director of Vanguard Investments UK, has said the contribution of his new head of retail sales would be "critical" as the...

New Star's Dossett to join Henderson but Webster to leave.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Roger Dossett, head of the New Star property team, has confirmed he will be joining Henderson At the same time, Stuart Webster, manager of the group's GBP407m International Property fund, has opted not to join the...

Octopus partners with Prism to launch funds for IFA firms.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Octopus Investments is partnering with Prism Capital Management to launch three risk-rated multi-manager, multi-asset funds for 10 IFA firms, with the possibility to add more products in the future. The funds have...

Green latest New Star manager to confirm move to Henderson.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Trevor Green will be joining Henderson Global Investors from New Star Asset Management, Henderson announced today (1 April). Green manages the New Star Select Opportunities and UK Growth funds, as well as the equity...

Manish Bhatia to run Schroders' Asia, Pacific and India funds.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Schroder Investment Management announced Manish Bhatia will now be running its Pacific, Asia Pacific, ISF Pacific and ISF India funds. Bhatia joined Schroders's Hong Kong office in September, where he has worked...

GAM to acquire Augustus Asset Managers.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Julius Baer subsidiary GAM has announced plans to acquire London-based fixed income and foreign exchange specialist Augustus Asset Managers. The deal will see Augustus return to the Julius Baer fold, after it was...

Allianz launches European Equity Income fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Allianz Global Investors is hoping to offer investors a silver lining amongst all the current market turbulence with the launch of the Allianz RCM European Equity Income fund. The UK-domiciled fund is seeking to...

F&C alters yield target on High Income fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice F&C Investments has changed the yield target on its High Income fund from to 5 per cent from base rates plus 2 per cent after savage interest rate cuts have left investors struggling to find income. F&C said the...

Greater shareholder involvement needed in listed companies.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has supported calls for greater shareholder involvement in the running of listed companies, but said more research on the most effective methods needs to be done. ...

New EDHEC research chair to study ETFs.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny The EDHEC Risk and Asset Management Research Centre has teamed up with Credit Agricole Structured Asset Management in order to create a new research chair to study ETFs and the use of ETFs as part of a core-satellite...

Nordea names new investment adviser for Far Eastern Equity fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Asian investments specialists Tokio Marine Asset Management International (TMAI) have been appointed as investment adviser for the Nordea 1 - Far Eastern Equity fund. Nordea Investment Funds has changed the...

L&G Investment Management appoints new non-exec director.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Nick Rice Legal & General Investment Management has appointed Kevin Carter as a non-executive director following his role as a pensions advisory boss at JPMorgan Chase. Carter, who was managing director of Emea global pensions...

SIG replaces Rathbone's Stick on UK Best Ideas fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Skandia Investment Group has awarded a mandate in its UK Best Ideas fund to Cartesian managers Andrew Kelly and David Stevenson, replacing Rathbone Unit Trust Management's Carl Stick. Stick was removed from the...

Skandia launches multi-manager global equity fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston Skandia has launched a new multi-manager global equity fund for investors who want to grow their exposure to global equities. The Skandia Global Dynamic Equity fund will provide investors with access to a portfolio...

Aquila reveals farm property development fund.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston German alternative investment company Aquila Capital has launched a new farm property development fund, with the help of former Cargill executives. The AC Agri Opportunity fund, to be managed by Detlef Schoen, is...

New Star's Richard Pease to join Henderson.
April 6, 2009... Byline: James Kenny Richard Pease, manager of New Star' Asset Managements GBP468m European Growth fund, has agreed to join Henderson Global Investors along with the rest of the European team. Pease will join Henderson alongside Nick...

T Rowe unveils new strategy to Sicav range.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rob Langston T Rowe Price has launched a new global large cap equity strategy to its Sicav range to generate long-term capital growth. The new strategy will invest in 80-100 stocks in large companies across the world with...

Market Watch: A bizarre, bewildering month.
April 6, 2009... Byline: John Anderson The events of late March indicate the Bank's forecasts of deflation may not be as accurate as first thought March 2009 will be remembered as one of the more bizarre months in the history of the UK fixed interest...

Analyst: F&C.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Anna Lawlor F&C fund manager Peter Hewitt talks to Anna Lawlor about developing awareness of zero-dividend preference shares It is unusual to launch a fund in a sector marred by controversy, yet that is precisely what F&C did...

Industry Voice: Going back to bond basics.
April 6, 2009... Byline: Jim Leaviss is head of retail fixed income at M&G I first talked about the great potential among corporate bonds back in November last year. I still think investment-grade corporate bonds offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for...