News

29 Sep 2015

How the utilities sector will fare over the medium term and three investment trusts to consider.

The performance of utilities companies across the world has been difficult so far this year, following strong performance in 2014. A relatively benign interest rate outlook, coupled with modest growth, saw the US provide much of the gains last year, but this year investors have become increasingly wary of the potential for interest rate rises […]

29 Sep 2015

A look at BlackRock Latin American

This week I thought I would write something on BlackRock Latin American Trust. China might have attracted all the headlines recently but the knock-on effect of its slowdown on Latin America has been dramatic. Regional markets have been awful, and the situation has persisted for some time now.   http://citywire.co.uk/money/lat-am-trusts-my-worst-call-yet-but-im-not-quitting/a842523

29 Sep 2015

A look at JPMorgan Global Convertibles Income

By investing in ‘convertibles’ – bonds that can convert into shares – JPMorgan Global Convertibles Income offers a strong yield. But why the secrecy over its investments? http://citywire.co.uk/money/the-convertibles-investment-trust-shrouded-in-secrecy/a842531

29 Sep 2015

A look at Student property funds

Investing in halls of residence can be tricky though high yielding Empiric Student Property and GCP Student Living have made it work. http://citywire.co.uk/money/student-property-trusts-pass-the-test-as-income-funds/a835627

29 Sep 2015

Will new Alliance Trust directors bring change to the trust?

The appointment of two new non-executive directors at Alliance Trust should reassure shareholders but pressure remains to deliver improved performance at the trust, experts say. http://www.fundweb.co.uk/news-and-analysis/will-new-alliance-trust-directors-bring-change-to-the-trust/2023856.article

29 Sep 2015

F&C’s Ewins buys small cap bargains after the sell-off

Peter Ewins, manager of F&C Global Smaller Companies investment trust, is eyeing opportunities all over the world. http://citywire.co.uk/money/fandc-s-ewins-buys-small-cap-bargains-after-the-sell-off/a836116

28 Sep 2015

GCP Student Living spending C share money

GCP Student Living has been busy spending the money it raised in its recent C share issue. They have announced the completion of the acquisition of The Pad 2 and exchanged contracts to acquire Scape Shoreditch. The Pad 2 is located adjacent to Royal Holloway, University of London. The Pad 2 is a purpose-built, private student […]

28 Sep 2015

No longer a Primadona

Jupiter Primadona’s annual results, covering the year ended 30 June 2015, show the fund generating a total return of 7.6%, 3% more than its benchmark. The return to shareholders was 7.9%. The quarterly dividends were maintained at 1.6p to give 6.4p for the year as a whole. The fund has been called Jupiter Primadona Growth Trust plc […]

28 Sep 2015

Law Debenture in thirty year debt issue

The Law Debenture Corporation has agreed to issue £75m fixed rate 30-year secured private placement notes at an annualised coupon of 3.77%. The Board believes that, in the current bond and interest rate environment, it is desirable to obtain fixed rate, long dated sterling denominated financing at a pricing level that is attractive and, over the longer […]

28 Sep 2015

Toro invests in non-performing Spanish debt

Toro Limited has invested approximately €31.25m in instruments backed by the performance of a granular non-performing loan portfolio of small and medium sized enterprise (SME) loans and secured residential loans. This co-investment will be junior to any senior financing of the portfolio, and backed proportionately by loan exposures to 1654 SMEs and to 2283 secured residential […]