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7th May 2012
Dead calm
Multi-asset funds and volatility products aim to mitigate stormy conditions, but are investors forfeiting rewards for consistency? And is well-managed contrarianism preferable to a risk-off approach? Cherry Reynard reports.
30th April 2012
Where will it land?
China’s rapid growth has made it the centre of gravity for the world’s economy. But as it struggles to rebalance exports and internal consumption, forecasters are divided about whether it faces a hard or a soft landing. Ben Hunt reports.
23th April 2012
Hat trick
Some astute European companies overcame the dearth of corporate credit by tapping capital markets via an issue of bonds, which, some argue, is good for economies because it helps to spread the load. Rodrigo Amaral reports.
16th April 2012
Business in a bind
’Responsible capitalism’ – the widely held view by politicians and business leaders that companies should operate within greater restraints – presents a formidable barrier to the promotion of prosperity, writes Daniel Ben-Ami.
9th April 2012
Blunt tool
The monetary policy of central banks seems to have had a stabilising effect, but many wonder why huge sums of money are not reaching the real economy, spurring lending and stimulating economic growth. Ben Hunt reports.
2nd April 2012
Screen printing
As technology companies mature, develop money-spinning patents and reward shareholders, how far is the sector from becoming a dividend aristocrat? And is it on the verge of bubble territory? Adam Lewis reports.
26th March 2012
Premium octane
While the price of oil is rising, demand for the physical commodity is in retreat. Problems with Iran are only part of the story as a geopolitical risk premium is built into futurescontracts, inflicting higher fuel costs on consumers. Ben Hunt reports.
19th March 2012
Small wonder
Small and medium-sized companies flourish in a downturn because they are agile and have room to grow, unlike larger firms. They also act as a bell-wether for economic health and offer potential for good returns, writes Rodrigo Amaral.
5th March 2012
To the lighthouse
The crisis in the eurozone, the stasis in the rest of the developed world and the build-up of inflationary pressures hamper investors’ quest for sanctuary as the number of “safe” asset classes dwindles, writes Helen Burnett-Nichols.
27th February 2012
Engines on
Pundits differ over the impact of the retail distribution review on investment trusts. Some say the new rules will raise standards and boost sales, while others say complexity and reduced liquidity will deter take-up. Muriel Oatham reports.
20th February 2012
Lost in space
New Star shone with its galaxy of strong managers and stellar performances, but it fell to earth and its story ended in takeover and a messy tribunal. James Smith examines the group’s legacy and how the funds have performed since.
13th February 2012
Safe place
Gilts outperformed last year and despite a woeful start to 2012, the asset class is unlikely to tumble as it will be buttressed by factors, including quantitative easing. However, there may be better, safer investments, writes Cherry Reynard.
6th February 2012
Back to the wall
If emerging markets offer the best hope for a return to global growth, as many experts argue, why are countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Russia risking an own goal by bringing back protectionist policies? Rodrigo Amaral reports.
23th January 2012
Core strength
Global demand for metal falters, which affects prices and exploration budgets. But there is light at the end of the tunnel as emerging economies grow and the long-term outlook for the sector brightens, writes Helen Burnett-Nichols.
16th January 2012
Coming to a head
The sovereign debt crisis and an ineffectual banking system intertwine to choke the eurozone - inevitable outcomes of the region’s ambiguous status as neither a single nation state nor a unified regional economy, writes Daniel Ben-Ami.
9th January 2012
Anyone’s guess
After a torrid and volatile 2011, in which natural disasters, political upheavals and the eurozone crisis have confounded economic predictions, who can say what 2012 will bring? Fund Strategy writers train their binoculars on the year ahead.
12th December 2011
Dazed and confused
Tomas Hirst and Shaun Cumming look back over a year when debt crises hit America and the eurozone, uprisings gripped the Middle East and North Africa, disasters struck Japan, markets tumbled … and political leadership appeared sadly lacking.
5th December 2011
Not the only fruit
Demand for strategic bond funds has rocketed as advisers seek multi-asset exposure. However, no two funds are the same, despite being lumped into one sector, which poses many challenges, writes Muriel Oatham.
28th November 2011
Sinking feeling
Fund managers have struggled to keep their head above water over the past five years as most British retail funds failed to outperform their benchmarks and savings accounts. Nick Rice examines the impact of volatile markets and short-termism and summarises the lessons that managers have learned.
21st November 2011
Shadow lands
Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the crisis in the eurozone flared up. But how does the turmoil in the monetary union mirror the collapse of the Soviet Union and what is the human cost? Tomas Hirst and Nick Rice investigate.
14th November 2011
Sparking debate
The problems in America and Britain are too deep-rooted to be turned around in the short term, nor can piecemeal measures make a difference. It would be more constructive to devise an ambitious long-term rebuilding plan, suggests Ben Hunt.
7th November 2011
At liberty
Demand for American equities prompts corporate America to reassess dividend policy as more investors seek income in a fallow environment - and the range of sectors offers diversified opportunities, writes Helen Burnett-Nichols.
31st October 2011
New broom
Brazil’s fast-growing economy attracts investors, encouraged by a new president, Dilma Rousseff, who has made a clean sweep on corruption, sending her popularity north and taking the focus off her colourful past. Shaun Cumming reports.
24th October 2011
Body of evidence
Corporate fraud returns to the headlines, prompting debates about why it is able to flourish and how stakeholders can identify wrongdoers before it is too late. Rodrigo Amaral investigates.
17th October 2011
In a flap
Hawks and doves clash over the threat of fly-away inflation, but neither has the analysis right, nor do they offer viable solutions to the problem. The answer lies in addressing structural weakness, writes Daniel Ben-Ami.
10th October 2011
Northern grit
The Nordic region shines as an example of economic resilence, but the global slowdown and financial market turbulence take their toll. However, investors should focus on the long term for a clearer picture, suggests Ben Hunt.
3rd October 2011
Into the charts
Technical analysis, which charts market trends, is attracting new interest as financial instruments lose their sheen. Indeed, money managers are unwise to ignore these studies, writes Vanessa Drucker.
26th September 2011
High stakes
As hopes fade that austerity and monetary policies alone will bring the global economy back on track, some policymakers are advocating fiscal easing. But can politicians agree to embrace it, and would it work? Tomas Hirst investigates.
19th September 2011
Piggy in the middle
The money market industry introduced guidelines and regulations in the wake of the credit crisis of 2008. But are funds in the sector robust enough to withstand a fresh European banking crisis? Cherry Reynard investigates.
12th September 2011
In the balance
Investors attempt to protect capital and generate growth by using strategies to mitigate risk. Rodrigo Amaral examines the advantages and pitfalls of the plethora of instruments that operate under the umbrella of hedging.
5th September 2011
Slings and arrows
Stockpickers are under pressure to anticipate political interference in more sectors, especially when heavy corporate taxation is seen as a popular choice to restore empty public coffers, writes Helen Burnett-Nichols.
29th August 2011
Following suit
Warren Buffett attracts investors who want to emulate his success, which rests on buy-and-hold. But how far are others able to copy his investment style and what are the obstacles to generating similar returns? Muriel Oatham reports.
22nd August 2011
Shadowy image
Exposure to private equity can give access to high-growth companies and good managers. But a lack of transparency and poor liquidity deter some advisers from considering the asset class for their retail clients. Neal Underwood reports.
15th August 2011
Fledgling giants
Infrastructure projects mushroom as emerging markets grow, which creates opportunities for investors to build nest eggs. But the market is fraught with difficulties, prompting the need for a cautious stance, writes Rodrigo Amaral.
8th August 2011
After the storms
Global insurance companies are under pressure from claims over a spate of natural castatrophes, as well as from sovereign debt and regulatory risks. Is this a time for investors to steer clear or to take advantage? Rodrigo Amaral reports.
1st August 2011
Gear Shift
The Adviser Fund Index indices reveal shifts in geographical bias and asset allocation, including a move from British equities to emerging markets as well as weightings in corporate bonds, which reflect fundamental trends, writes Tomas Hirst.
25th July 2011
Danger sign
The rising cost of living stokes fears that standards are falling across the western world. Ben Hunt suggests there is cause for concern, but policymakers should address the chronic supply-side weaknesses of economies first.
18th July 2011
Spin cycle
Stakeholders demand transparency as well as a desire to conform to the proliferation of environmental pressures, forcing firms to enhance their green credentials and launder their image. Rodrigo Amaral looks at the pressure to clean up.
11th July 2011
Smart cookie
Multi-manager funds proliferate and it becomes more difficult for investors to differentiate between them. Anthony Beachey examines the factors affecting performance, as well as how funds in the category are developing to stay ahead.
4th July 2011
Beetle juice
A self-reliant industrial sector and strong export market revived Germany after three big shocks, including reunification. However, a lack of investment in the domestic economy could prove a barrier to sustained growth, writes Ben Hunt.
