FundCalibre has entered the investment trust ratings market, awarding its 'elite' badge of approval to an initial 11 vehicles.
The firm said its research indicated clients had a "strong interest" in education about investment trusts, with many finding it difficult to find the right vehicle in which to invest.
The 11 elite ratings have been applied to trusts focusing on UK, Global, European, Asia and Japanese equities, as well as one property strategy. FundCalibre said it expected to add more trusts to its ratings system in the near future.
The move comes after a concerted effort from the investment trust industry to boost interest from intermediaries and retail clients. However, the lack of access via some adviser platforms remains an issue.
Fidelity-owned FundsNetwork now provides access to 91 investment trusts, but Cofunds remains a laggard and Old Mutual Wealth is not expected to offer access until either later this year or in 2018.
FundCalibre investment company research specialist Tony Yousefian said: "We think our new, freely accessible, independent fund research on closed-ended funds will be extremely useful to investors and advisers alike.”
The Association of Investment Companies said adviser purchases of investment trusts had tripled since 2012.
Communications director Annabel Brodie-Smith added: "We very much welcome more research on investment companies and we frequently receive investor requests for more independent research."
| Investment companies awarded an 'elite' rating: |
| |
| Baillie Gifford Japan Trust |
| Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon |
| City of London Investment Trust |
| F&C Global Smaller Companies |
| Fidelity Special Values |
| Jupiter European Opportunities Trust |
| Lowland Investment Company |
| Murray International Trust |
| Schroder Oriental Income Fund |
| Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust |
| TR Property Investment Trust |
| Source: FundCalibre |
