Was 2024 the year of the stockpicker? Nope. December 18, 2024 Every year, asset managers claim that this year is the year of the stockpicker. At the start of 2024, Bank of America claimed that “active funds will have greater odds of selecting winners in 2024”. “We expect more idiosyncratic opportunities next year given elevated valuation dispersion and increased public market inefficiencies, which should create a [...]
Investors pile into UK equities after pre-Budget selling December 4, 2024 UK equity funds ended a 41-month streak of outflows last month as investors piled back into the market following Rachel Reeves’s tax-raiding Budget. After suffering their worst month on record before in the run up to the October fiscal plans, fund flows reversed sharply as investors poured money back into the market, with buying for [...]
The investment industry is primed to support the government’s growth agenda December 3, 2024 Taking risks is essential to economic growth, but too many people are missing out on the opportunities investment can bring, says Chris Cummings The anticipation in Mansion House was palpable as Rachel Reeves delivered her first address to the financial services industry last month. As leading figures across UK business and government listened to the [...]
US funds soar in November while gold prices sink December 2, 2024 US-focused funds topped the charts in November following Donald Trump’s presidential victory, while gold and precious metal funds struggled to maintain their previously strong performance. The average North America-focused fund grew by 7.2 per cent throughout the month, with North American Smaller Companies growing by a whopping 11.9 per cent. This led the best performing [...]
UK companies are struggling to keep up with peers on growth November 28, 2024 UK companies are failing to keep up with international peers on sustained growth, data from Panmure Liberum has revealed. While practically all companies manage to create strong growth on occasional years, few companies have managed to keep growth going every year, noted Joachim Klement, investment strategist at Panmure Liberum. The longest streak on record for [...]
Budget pension consolidation raises ‘serious concerns’ for UK small firms November 26, 2024 Fund managers that invest in UK small companies have “serious concerns” that plans to consolidate pension schemes might lead to even more money flowing out of British businesses. The plan, announced at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ inaugural Mansion House speech earlier this month, would combine 86 different local government pension schemes manage assets between £300m and [...]
The UK has the tools, talent and expertise to unlock growth November 18, 2024 In a competitive global environment, Britain has everything it needs to succeed, but there are a few ways the government could help, says Chris Hayward The Chancellor’s Mansion House speech laid out a bold and detailed vision for the UK’s economy and financial services sector. The message is clear: Britain is not only primed for [...]
UK fund withdrawals reach largest on record amid Budget panic November 4, 2024 UK equity fund withdrawals reached their largest on record in October as investors pulled billions out of markets to escape tax rises in the Budget. Investors sold a £2.7bn stake in funds throughout the month in anticipation of Chancellor Rachel Reeves hiking capital gains tax, up from £564m of withdrawals in September, according to data [...]
UK dividends fall sharply amid mining payout cuts October 24, 2024 UK dividends fell sharply throughout last quarter as the mining sector cut dividends by £2.6bn and a strong pound pushed down payouts. Dividends from UK companies totalled £25.6bn in the third quarter, down £2.6bn or 8.1 per cent from the same period last year, according to the latest Dividend Monitor report from Computershare. The drop [...]
Class action boom in UK is yet another disincentive to investing here October 24, 2024 As the country holds its collective breath ahead of next week’s Budget, it’s fair to say that business confidence in the UK is lower than the Treasury might like. Last week, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) reported that business confidence had fallen to a 12-month low, while the Institute of [...]