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Citi Quilter considers absolute return launch

Story by: Nick Rice and James Kenny, Investment Adviser

Move shows companies contemplating push into the market before Faifs are introduced.

• Time published: 00:01
• Date published: 29.09.2008
• Published in: Investments

AIMA selects new council at AGM

The Alternative Investment Management Association has selected a new council at its annual general meeting.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

SLI awarded triple-A-rating by Standard & Poor's

Standard Life Investments has been awarded a triple-A-rating by Standard & Poor's for Karen Robertson’s £320m UK Equity Growth fund.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Architas appoints Kendall as product development chief

Architas Multi-Manager has appointed Dawn Kendall as head of product development and investment strategy.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Barclays Wealth launches new issue of Commodity Select protected investment

Barclays Wealth launched a new issue of its Commodity Select protected investment, which offers access to a range of commodities, supported by full capital protection.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

HBOS/Lloyds merger provokes questions

Shorting ban may spell trouble for Insight absolute return team as crisis unfolds

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Barings points to change in drivers for emerging markets

Emerging markets are undergoing a significant change in the fundamental drivers determining their economies, according to Baring Asset Management.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Global outlook still poor: Dolphin

The global economic outlook remains poor despite the decision by central banks to inject liquidity into money markets, according to Tony Dolphin, director of economics and asset allocation at Henderson Global Investors.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

James Hay to host Sipp seminars for advisers

James Hay, the largest Sipp provider in the UK, will host four seminars entitled “strategies for success in a financial storm” for independent financial advisers this October.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Octopus wins award for Tristar chauffeur buyout

Octopus Investments has won the "Deal of the Year" award at this year’s Thames Valley Deals Awards for its management buyout of Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

SLS implements Swift account-opening service

Standard Life Savings has become the first platform provider in the world to automate the account-opening process with Swift, the financial messaging provider for more than 8300 institutions.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Henderson decides against short options

The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment trust has decided against investing in short options after mixed feedback from shareholders over the direction of the trust’s investment strategy.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Fidelity finds change in face of corporate Europe

The face of corporate Europe has been transformed over the last two decades owing to major political changes on the continent, according to Fidelity International, which conducted an analysis into how companies have responded to market liberalisation and M&A activity.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Bestinvest to join up with 25 IFA firms

Bestinvest has announced it will partner with 25 IFA firms to provide them with access to its investment services, allowing them to focus on their core business.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Resolution claims UK already in recession

The UK economy is already in recession, according to Resolution Asset Management, quoting the National Institute of Economic and Social Research’s monthly estimate of quarterly GDP.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

F&C's Niven warns over risk to bonds

Head of asset allocation says US bailout plans will help equities

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Equity markets have reached bottom, says Ashburton

Equity markets may well have reached the bottom, according to Peter Lucas, global investment strategist at Ashburton.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Aifa calls for clarity on persuasion sales

Association says differentiation between sales and advice will be key post-RDR

• Date published: 29.09.2008

TISA calls for national savings strategy

The Tax Incentivised Savings Association has called on the government to create a national savings strategy to integrate saving throughout consumers' lives.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Pioneer says need to unwind leverage is paramount

The recent financial crisis - characterised by high volatility and the dramatic movements in the prices of equity and credit securities - has indicated a need for the unwinding of leverage, according to Marco Pirondini, chief investment officer at Pioneer Investments.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

S&P upbeat on vehicles aiming to preserve capital

S&P Fund Services praises funds maintaining cautious portfolios and defensive plays

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Money joins Cazenove

Jonathan Money has joined Cazenove Capital Management as a fund director and will be responsible for managing high net worth private clients.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Informed Choice slams agencies over high ratings

IFA Informed Choice has criticised agencies for maintaining high ratings on funds with poor risk-adjusted returns, consistency and costs.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Newton hits out against 'blank-cheque' approach

Head of global fixed income warns on consequences of US intervention

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Mann quits Bankhall to work at Skandia

Peter Mann, chief executive at IFA support services firm Bankhall, is to leave the firm to become chief development officer at Skandia UK Group, where he will have responsibility for marketing, strategy, sales and communications.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

FSA hires two senior advisers

The FSA has appointed two new senior advisers to cover retail markets and wholesale insurance.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Close makes Sam Barton small-cap investment manager

Close Investments has added to its smaller companies funds team by appointing Sam Barton as investment manager.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

RAM appoints Richardson as deputy head of UK equities

Resolution Asset Management has appointed Neil Richardson to the newly created position of deputy head of UK equities, reporting to Peter Reid, director and chief investment officer of UK equities.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Lund appointed group chief executive at Money Portal

Mark Lund, former chief executive at St James’s Place, has been appointed group chief executive at Money Portal, the independently owned distribution channel.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Darling uregs review od bank regulation

Chancellor asks FSA chairman to review ways to improve system, and pledges to curb 'bonus culture'

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Advisers divided on UK cash unit trusts

UK managers relaxed over fears the same problems that hit US money market funds in wake of Lehman collapse could spread here

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Survey reveals rise in online coverage of IFAs' worth

There has been a huge hike in the online coverage of the need to find an IFA, according to a recent survey by financial social networking site IFA Life.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

S&P launches Vietnam index

Rating agency rolls out index for large and liquid companies

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Advisers warn capital access, not shorting, is the threat

Access to capital - and not the FSA's shorting ban - is likely to hit hedge funds hardest, according to advisers.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Noble moves closer to merger

Nobele Income & Growth shareholders sent proposals to pave way for merger

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Berkeley James launches Arizona retail development fund

Should fund fail to make sufficient profits in any two consecutive periods, investors can be refunded full value of invested capital

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Jupiter Japan manager talks up country's attractiveness

Political stability, strong corporate balance sheets and a strong currency will boost the attractiveness of Japan to foreign investors, according to Simon Somerville, manager of the £189m Jupiter Japan Income fund.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Omam's Gifford urges caution over yields

Too much emphasis in share selection is placed on absolute levels of dividend yield at the expense of other important factors such as dividend cover, according to Michael Gifford, manager of the £5.9m Old Mutual Equity Income fund.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Investors concerned in wake of South African president's departure

Mbeki's removal by deputy Zuma sends jitters through South African economy and sees rand fall by huge margin

• Date published: 29.09.2008

F&C hires Sonnbichler as fund manager

New appointment will aid in constructing and managing portfolios and brings the head count of the multi-manager team to four

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Conforto makes two appointments

Conforto Financial Management has appointed two new advisers - Adam Osper, previously a senior wealth adviser at Towry Law, and Will Myers, a new graduate adviser.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Lazard European fund has OBSR rating reinstated

The £209m Lazard European Alpha fund has had its OBSR single-A-rating reinstated six months after it appointed Aaron Barnfather as lead manager.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

RCM upbeat over eastern Europe

Large losses on eastern European exchanges make markets look extremely attractive and further downward pressure there will be limited, according to Raiffeisen Capital Management.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Axa's Hooper shifts to balanced outlook

Panic is ending, so now is the time of maximum financial opportunity, says Axa manager

• Date published: 29.09.2008

JOHambro rolls out global select fund

Fund will be run by former Barings managers Lees and Richyal and will look outside benchmark approach

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Prudential offers rolling five-year guarantee on PruFund Investment Plan

Prudential is launching a rolling five-year guarantee on its PruFund Investment Plan following the success of the previous guarantee.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

ABI urges FSA to rethink rules on financial advice

Director-general of ABI says advisers who are paid transparently should be able to recommend products

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Lehman purchase won't affect iShares, says Barclays

UK investors in iShares tracking US credit indices will be unaffected by Barclays’ recent purchase of Lehman Brothers’ banking operation, Barclays has said.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

SLI manager upbeat about European small-cap fund

Standard Life Investments' €35m (£27.8m) European Smaller Companies fund has performed well relative to the wider market in the year since it was launched, according to its manager, Kevin Nicholson.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

T Bailey advises against timing the markets

Investors who attempt to time markets during short-term crises could end up halving their returns, according to fund of funds specialist T Bailey Asset Management.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Insinger de Beaufort looks to capital protection

Exposure to absolute return strategies is key to surviving the latest market crisis, according to multi-manager and alternatives specialist Insinger de Beaufort Asset Management.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Midas shows short-term improvement in Balanced funds

Midas Capital Partners has noted a short-term improvement in its £637.8m Balanced Growth and £514.3m Balanced Income funds, although their 12-month performance has remained fourth quartile.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

MEPs call for stricter rules over regulation

Euro MPs angry recent principles-based legislation failed to protect markets as liquidity crisis hit

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Survey finds 39% of CFA members back bailout

Further 19% favour further intervention but one-third feel rescue package was wrong

• Date published: 29.09.2008

M&G managers claim Asia as attractive as before Olympics

The investment case for Asia is as strong as it was before the Olympic Games, despite fears of a potential slowdown, according to M&G's Matthew Vaight and Michael Godfrey.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Mercer hires White as Asia consultant

Mercer has appointed Nick White as director of consulting for the Asia Pacific region and will have responsibility for Mercer's investment consulting business.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Advisers could face legal action over Sipps advice

Advisers who failed to make disticntion between insurance-based and trust-based Sipp providers could be sued, says law firm

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Quantum appoints Tully as sales manager

Specialist investment manager Quantum Asset Management has appointed Tristan Tully as sales manager and promoted Neville Godley to head of distribution, with immediate effect.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Deutsche Bank figures show European equity ETF turnover up

European equity ETF turnover rose by 29.3 per cent, with average daily turnover reaching €1.24bn (£980m) last week, according to the latest figures from Deutsche Bank.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Skandia adds to range

Castlestone Management’s Ucits III fund is to be offered by Skandia International as part of its Royal Skandia fund range.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

SVM chief urges examining company news

Investors would do well to tune out all the macroeconomic noise and focus more on company news, according to Colin McLean, managing director at SVM Asset Management.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Advisers seduced by new products

Many advisers with limited investment experience do not fully understand the risks of increasingly sophisticated products, according to Lawrence House Fund Managers.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

WFIC wants better retail advice to help stocks recover

Fewer structured products, better retail advice and more corporate SRI programmes will help stocks recover from the latest crisis, according to the World Federation of Investors Corporations.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Brazil weathers global financial storm

Low levels of mortgage debt exposure and strong domestic resources lessen impact of credit squeeze

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Liontrust stays positive over stock market

Commodities, retail and engineering offer potentially attractive valuations, claims firm

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Efama moves to clarify status of ETFs

Efama has responded to concerns about the status of ETFs following the recent financial crisis.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Zurich expands its green business fund

Zurich announced the latest tranche of its Green Guaranteed Account, which offers financial intermediaries a guaranteed account linked to the green business sector.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Free exams a positive solution to skills gap

IFAs at Positive Solutions have registered for some 300 exams in the next round of CII exams.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

IMA demands clarification over shorting rules

Managers unclear as to whether individual funds should report short positions in financial stocks

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Lau appointed to T Rowe team

Investment management company T Rowe Price has appointed Cindy Lau as associate portfolio manager of its global fixed income team in London.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Clerical Medical research show commodities up since January

Half of commodities tracked by company have reached record highs in first half

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Gartmore praises emerging markets

Emerging markets continue to offer good value and investment opportunities despite recent market volatility, according to Chris Palmer, manager of $6.4bn (£3.4bn) of Gartmore's emerging markets assets.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

S&P launches credit ratings education programme

Standard & Poor's has launched a credit ratings education programme in Europe designed to give the market an “improved analytical and methodological appreciation” of S&P’s corporate and structured finance ratings.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Low Carbon Investors secures funding from Devonshire

Low Carbon Investors has secured new funding from Singapore-based asset management group Devonshire Capital.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

F&C manager calls for more goverment intervention

Fatima Luis, manager of the Strategic Bond fund at F&C, has called for more government intervention in the financial markets, but warned investors may not be protected from the fall-out.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Vox pop - Short selling ban

Questions have been raised as to whether the credit crisis could worsen and represent the beginning of the end of the old financial order. Imran Khan asked seven leading IFAs if this is the end of capitalism as we know it.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Cru to launch Africa fund

Cru Investment Management is to launch a new fund investing in sub-Saharan Africa that copies the formula used in its Africa Invest fund in Malawi.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

New Star's Ward urges Bank to cut cost of liquidity scheme

The Bank of England should cut the cost of its emergency liquidity scheme, according to Simon Ward, economist and strategist at New Star.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Aegon adds gift trust

Aegon Scottish Equitable has added a Bare Discounted Gift trust to its range that brings the company's total to six.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Assetz sees hotel interest soar

Property specialist Assetz has seen interest in its hotel investment funds soar in recent months following increased demand from investors and more receptive hoteliers.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Præmium puts clients in the driving seat

Fund unveils first ever individually tailored payment structure for fund of funds

• Date published: 29.09.2008

F&C seeks good news from US

Good news from Washington is desperately needed to prevent further turbulence, according to Paul Niven, director and head of strategy at F&C.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

Cofunds adds two Castlestone funds to platform

Cofunds has added two of Castlestone Management’s Aliquot funds to its platform range.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

PFB grabs property opportunity

Pinder, Fry & Benjamin is to launch a new fund to take advantage of the shortage of residential properties in the UK.

• Date published: 29.09.2008

European equity ETF turnover on the rise

European equity ETF turnover rose by 29.3 per cent, with average daily turnover reaching €1.24bn (£980m) last week, according to the latest figures from Deutsche Bank.

• Date published: 26.09.2008

European markets looking attractive: Raiffeisen

Large losses on eastern European exchanges make markets look extremely attractive and further downward pressure there will be limited, according to Raiffeisen Capital Management.

• Date published: 24.09.2008

Equity markets may have bottomed: Ashburton

Equity markets may well have reached the bottom, according to Peter Lucas, global investment strategist at Ashburton.

• Date published: 24.09.2008

UK economy already in recession: Resolution

The UK economy is already in recession, according to Resolution Asset Management, quoting the National Institute of Economic and Social Research’s monthly estimate of quarterly GDP.

• Date published: 24.09.2008

James Hay seminars to help battle 'financial storm'

James Hay, the largest Sipp provider in the UK, will host four seminars entitled 'strategies for success in a financial storm' for IFAs this October.

• Date published: 24.09.2008