Archive

The last 12 months has seen a total reversal in fortunes for property funds. Is this recent trend due to continue or are we witnessing a scramble for alternative asset classes? What are the real prospects for property investing over the next 12 months and beyond and are positive returns sustainable?

Is the Euro on the verge of collapse? Is Spain the next European country to face a financial crisis? Will Germany withdraw from the Euro altogether? A number of factors have intensified the pressure on the Euro, making some investors question Europe as an investment. Our panel will discuss what these issues mean for the Euro and if it is possible to still make money in European Equities.

At the halfway point in 2010 have we seen the worst of the recent economic turmoil? Investors could be forgiven for not knowing where to invest, however recent IMA stats suggest that Absolute returns, Emerging Markets and Property are the key areas of growth whilst Corporate Bonds continue to suffer redemptions. What are the prospects for the equity markets and the wider economy and what should in... [read more]

The at-retirement market has entered what may well turn out to be a period of significant change. Driven by the new Coalition Government, regulation, innovation among product providers, demographics, and retirees wanting a more active retirement, more is being demanded from the industry in the at-retirement space. But is the industry responding? Log in to our At Retirement Conjecture debate to ... [read more]

Worthwhile opportunities in US equities might have been overlooked by investors. Most jumped on the emerging markets train, which now looks overcrowded and heading towards a market bubble. The US remains the world’s largest economy but have investors missed the recovery or is this the perfect time for exposure to US equities?

One year on from FTSE hitting a six year low, many are looking to UK equities to lead a recovery, but is the recent rally underpinned by anything more substantial than hope? How strong are the big name companies that make up the UK stock market? Our panel will look at the implications of the undecisive general election and what impact a coalition government might have on the UK’s fortunes.

Global Equities have bounced back in recent months led primarily by the speedy recovery of Emerging Markets. But how sustainable is this recovery? Exports, consumer spending and domestic demand remain buoyant but how much of this is due to interest rate manipulation and unsustainable fiscal measures? With the whole world to choose from where are Global Equity managers finding value and what areas... [read more]

The rise in popularity of the Absolute Return sector was one of the big investment stories of 2009. However the sector is a mixed bag of funds with managers employing very different styles to achieve their target returns. This debate will look at some of the strategies employed by Absolute Return managers as well as the stocks and sectors they find attractive.

Fixed Income - With credit rallying strongly over the course of 2009, many investors are now starting to question if value remains in fixed income markets. With expectations of government bond yields rising on the back of burgeoning budget deficits across the developed world, investors are now looking to flexible fixed income mandates and funds which can protect against the potential pitfalls for ... [read more]

With the end of Q1 in sight and the UK out of the recession, how will advisers fare in the upcoming months? The end of the quarter saw Obama achieve his ambition to provide 95% of all Americans with health insurance and the Chancellor present his latest budget. With the general election on the horizon and a potential hung parliament, how will the markets react to such turbulence? Our expert panel ... [read more]

The last 12 months has seen a total reversal in fortunes for property funds. Ranked 28th out of 34 sectors in January 2009, a late rally saw the property sector finish the year as the top selling fund sector for 3 months running. Is this recent trend due to continue or are we witnessing a scramble for alternative asset classes as the exodus from Corporate Bonds continues? What are the real prospec... [read more]

With the RDR fast approaching many advisers are looking at the possibility of outsourcing their investment decisions. Is the current selection of Multimanager funds flexible enough to offer IFA’s a full outsourcing option or are they just one part of a much larger solution? What new trends and developments are emerging in the Multimanager arena and how are the providers gearing up for the potent... [read more]

In recent weeks the problems surrounding the Greek economy and its subsequent EU bailout has grabbed all of the headlines. Some commentators have cited the the inflexibility of the Euro as a contributing factor and with Portugal, Ireland and Spain rumoured to be heading the same way as Greece is Europe on the verge of a financial meltdown or is this just an isolated case? How are European Equity ... [read more]

UK Equity income investors face high concentrations of risk, with just 10 companies paying 60% of all dividend income according to a recent statement. With the demise of the financial sector there are significantly fewer dividend opportunities. Do UK only income funds place their investors at greater risk than more diversified funds or do UK Equity income managers see good value outside of these 1... [read more]

2009 was a difficult year for structured products. In a year of record sales, the sector was rocked by the demise of four plan providers and a barrage of negative and, some would say, unfair commentary. Despite these setbacks many advisors consider structured products as a mainstream product for UK investors. With almost unlimited potential, flexibility and options, structured products are a very ... [read more]

The last 20 years have been notoriously difficult for Japanese equities. Despite these difficulties there have always been opportunities to make positive returns for the shrewd investor. Investment in certain Japanese sectors is also seen as a way of indirectly accessing China's recent growth. With a new government now in place and fiscal policies designed to revive the economy currently being imp... [read more]

SIPPs steady rise in popularity became a boom in the early years of the 21st century as investors began to feel confident enough riding the bull market to consider taking control of their own retirement funds. A-day in 2006 brought with it a swathe of new legislation regarding permitted investments to make SIPPs even more accessible and attractive. How much further can the SIPP market grow? Many o... [read more]

Emerging economies have undergone a stronger recovery than developed markets in recent months, a trend that is expected to continue into 2010. With China driving much of the growth in Asia, Russia still dependent on commodities and Brazil leading the charge in Latin America, which markets can still offer good value and returns and which markets are laden with risk?

Corporate bonds were the must have investment of 2009 leading the IMA sales charts for much of the year. However many believe the bond market has reached saturation and value is increasingly difficult to find. With last year’s resurgence of global equity markets, will 2010 be a year of redemptions for Corporate Bonds or are they still a must have?

A constant presence in most portfolios Europe did not escape the economic downturn. GDP in the Euro zone fell by 1.5% in the last quarter of 2008 and the start of 2009 offered little in the way of respite. But with tighter investment controls across most of Europe and less exposure to the toxic debt which burdened the UK and US which Euro zone countries are best equipped to bounce back and which a... [read more]

The end of the year is always time for resolutions but with the uncertainty seen in the markets this year, investors could be forgiven for not knowing what to resolve. With the Dubai property crisis providing an unwanted reminder that we are not out of the woods yet how will are the markets and the wider economy react to yet more bad news and what should investors expect in 2010?

Property funds sales were up for the sixth consecutive month in October, the first time this has happened since June 2007, with sales totaling £261m, more than double the £129m achieved in August. Property is firmly back on the agenda but as inflows increase where is the best value to be found, UK, Global, Commercial, REITS or Bricks and Mortar?

By carefully picking through the companies that other funds avoid, recovery funds have made a killing in the past few months as the stock market has surged. But will they be left behind as markets stabilise? Or will a ‘W’-shaped recovery mean more opportunities for these funds?

One of the key issues surrounding Income protection Insurance (IP) is that compared to the other forms of protection it is grossly undersold. It has been seen as ripe for growth for years, so why has this not occurred? The central issues are: perceived cost; perceived difficulty, and time, needed to underwrite policies and an undervaluing of the need for this product. In reality costs are not a... [read more]

Despite the recent recovery in stock markets, volatility continues to put many investors off equities, with the main beneficiary being corporate bonds. IMA UK Corporate Bond has been the best-selling sector amongst retail investors in every month this year. But corporate bonds are not without volatility either – are current yields sufficient to reward for risks? What issues are bond fund manager... [read more]

On the first anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, are we heading out of the storm that has consumed financial markets? With both Mervyn King and Ben Bernanke predicting the worst might be over, are hopes being falsely raised? Our panel will discuss these issues and look at which countries and sectors might be the first to recover.

Managers in the equity income sector have had a torrid time over the past year. The search for income has become increasingly difficult as hard hit companies cut dividends. As the markets continue to rally there are signs that conditions may improve for the sector. This Interactive Financial Adviser debate will look at how equity income managers have coped during the past year. The panel will a... [read more]

One big criticism of the Structured Products market is that it is not liquid or transparent enough. Those who have bought a 5yr structured product have no guarantee of a fair redemption price if they choose to redeem mid term or at any point before its maturity date. This Conjecture will examine the future of Structured Products and how the industry can address this problem - will the UK copy ... [read more]

Annuities have long been the mainstay of retirement planning but have certainly faced their fair share of challenges in recent years. Often dismissed as inflexible and poor value for money, the annuity market has in fact undergone a great deal of change. Most notably developments in the enhanced annuity market promise to usher in products more personally tailored to the individual. We have also se... [read more]

The bleak economic outlook has been well documented, but will market conditions appear any better as we go into the third quarter of 2009? Our panel will identify the geo-political sectors that have coped best throughout the downturn and highlight those that they feel are best equipped to bounce back.

More and more investors are turning to exchange-traded funds, looking for value in markets or commodities that are thriving in the face of falling global markets. But which funds - and which underpinning markets - are most likely to provide increasingly elusive returns?

While counterparty risk has always been a consideration for investors buying structured products and other investments, it has come to the fore of investors’ mindsets since the collapse of Lehman Brothers last year. In the weeks immediately after, investor confidence was severely dented, as many lost their capital in Lehman structured products and third party products backed by Lehman paper. ... [read more]

Corporate Bonds, for so long among the most secure asset classes, has seen doubt cast on its ability to guarantee returns as companies struggle to raise cash. The fallout from Lehman Brothers’ collapse has even seen several Corporate Bonds funds post a loss and many investors have turned to the greater perceived reliability of government-backed gilts. How well equipped are corporate bonds to bou... [read more]

Structured products are currently facing their first big test. The vehicles became a hit thanks to their stated aim of providing returns irrespective of prevailing market conditions, but now, as global investment markets endure a turbulent passage, Structured Products must deliver the returns they promise. The market has quickly expanded to incorporate a diverse range of underlying investments fro... [read more]

They have become a cornerstone of the investment market, luring investors with the promise of security irrespective of prevailing market conditions. The funds' arrival was confirmed by the IMA's introduction of a dedicated absolute returns sector last year. But this perceived security is facing a stern test amid current market uncertainty. How well have the funds stood up to the global downturn so... [read more]

Multi-manager funds have grown in popularity due to the access they give investors to a range of expertise. But the funds’ comparatively high fees could deter investors if diminished returns mean less room for error. In a wounded market, do the benefits derived from putting your eggs in several baskets justify the cost?

SIPPs steady rise in popularity became a boom in the early years of the 21st century as investors began to feel confident enough riding the bull market to consider taking control of their own retirement funds. A-day in 2006 brought with it a swathe of new legislation regarding permitted investments to make SIPPs even more accessible and attractive. Despite trickier investment conditions, new laws ... [read more]

Structured products could be about to face their biggest test since rising to prominence over the last decade. The vehicles became a hit thanks to their stated aim of providing returns irrespective of prevailing falling market conditions, but now, as global investment markets enter a period of uncertainty, Structured Products must deliver the returns they promised.