From robots in Japan to crashing sentiment in Latin America, what are the risks and opportunities for investors this year? March 23, 2016 Every year, we ask our credit and equity analysts at Fidelity International about the health, growth prospects, and challenges facing the companies they research worldwide. The results of our 2016 Analyst Survey are in, showing a maturing cycle in which growth is becoming scarcer. For investors, this means understanding who will be the winners and [...]
Passive investors are on the rise, according to new research into Sipps and Isas March 22, 2016 There has been a rise in passive investors in the current tax year, according to new research into self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) and Isas. Interactive Investor said that among its clients passives make up three of the five most popular funds in Sipps. Meanwhile, the online investment service said the top five Isa collectives held are all [...]
The Investment Association reveals productivity plan aimed at bolstering the UK economy through long-term investment March 22, 2016 The Investment Association has today unveiled its plans to boost the UK's productivity through long-term investment. Among the Productivity Action Plan's key areas of focus for removing barriers to long-term investment are improving investor engagement, enhancing company reporting to better show to what extent firms are contributing to the economy and contributing more to the debate on tax [...]
Private equity firm Ardian is selling its majority stake in Novacap to two French buyout firms for around £500m March 21, 2016 Paris based private equity firm Ardian is set to offload its majority stake in chemicals and cosmetics company Novacap to French buy out firms, Eurazeo and Mérieux Développement for around £500m. Novacap, maker of everything chemical from sun creams to baking powder, was bought by Ardian in 2011 for a deal that valued it at €240m (£188m). The deal is the latest in a raft of [...]
High net-worth, older UK investors most cautious in Europe, while millenials more likely to invest in riskier assets March 21, 2016 Older UK investors are the most cautious in Europe, with more than a third of their portfolios invested in cash to avoid asset risks from the volatility affecting global markets. Cash made up 36 per cent of the older investors' portfolios, classified as investments owned by those the age of 40. This figure was up from 29 per cent [...]
The Investment Association: FTSE 100 firms told to scrap quarterly reporting March 20, 2016 The investment industry's leading trade body is gearing up to tell Britain's blue-chip companies to scrap quarterly reporting. The Investment Association (IA) will make the move in an attempt to shift companies' focus towards more longer-term goals, a spokesperson confirmed. It's one of a string of measures contained in a landmark report which is due to be released next [...]
Wealth manager Brooks Macdonald’s share price up after delivering 12 per cent funds under management growth in “uncertain markets” March 17, 2016 The share price of Brooks Macdonald rose nearly two per cent today after the investment manager reported a 12 per cent growth in discretionary funds under management (FUM). The figures The company’s results, for the six months to 31 December 2015, showed it increased its FUM value to £7.82bn, up from £6.95bn the year before. [...]
What are ETFs and why could they be useful for your Isa? March 15, 2016 In today's environment of volatile equities and low bond yields, achieving strong returns is a tall order. So many investors have sought to mitigate the impact of lower returns by cutting out the fees and charges associated with active fund management. With $3 trillion invested in ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, by the end of last year, [...]
Gold, oil and robots: Big trend investing with ETFs March 15, 2016 The best-performing exchange-traded fund (ETF) so far this year is a triple-leveraged gold miners product that goes by the ticker symbol “NUGT”. Aiming to deliver three times the returns of the Arca Gold Miners index in any given session, its 150 per cent increase this year is of little surprise: gold miners have rallied on the [...]
FTSE 100 edges up but Admiral share price hit as investors await Budget and interest rate decisions March 14, 2016 The share price of one of the UK's largest insurers was hit in early trading after it emerged over the weekend that the chancellor may drop a tax bombshell on the sector when he delivers his Budget later this week. Admiral Group fell 1.6 per cent to 1,884.5p in early trading, after reports suggested George Osborne will raise the [...]