Strong start to the year for dividends won’t last, warns Capita as total payouts are set to fall for the first time since 2010 April 18, 2016 This year is set to be the worst for dividends in six years despite growth of 6.4 per cent in the first quarter year-on-year, the latest dividend monitor from Capita Asset Services has found. The total paid out to investors reached £14.2bn in the first quarter, though it will be offset over coming months by £2.7bn of [...]
Week ahead: Economic data and miners set to drive FTSE April 18, 2016 Investors will be wading through economic data this week, with the March unemployment report out on Wednesday and the latest retail sales and public finance figures due Thursday. On Friday the FTSE 100 index was down 21.35 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 6,343.75 points by the close, broadly in line with the European market. [...]
BlackRock’s profit has slumped by 20 per cent after struggling to deal with high levels of volatility in global markets April 14, 2016 US based BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, failed to weather the global financial storm at the start of this year. The wild market swings, which saw the total value of the Chinese markets reduced by 50 per cent and the price of a barrel of crude oil sink to lows of $27 per barrel, knocked [...]
“Closet indexer” fund managers help drive exchange-traded fund market to record levels in Europe as assets invested globally top $3 trillion April 12, 2016 Assets invested in exchange-traded funds and products listed in Europe reached record levels at the end of the first quarter in 2016. Preliminary figures from ETFGI shows $522bn (£366bn) was invested in the funds at the end of March. The market also saw its 18th consecutive month of net inflows, totalling $5.11bn. The data also showed [...]
City watchdog reminds firms managing funds to watch their language in customer communications April 7, 2016 Firms managing funds must be careful to make sure their product descriptions are clear and free of jargon, the results of a review published today show. The review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that, while the majority of the firms it studied in its sample were investing in line with the strategy they [...]
Recently launched Research Tree raises £450,000 in second funding round from investors including Liberum April 6, 2016 A recently launched investment research firm has today unveiled plans for expansion after raising £450,000 in a second funding round – and is hoping to attract more private investors to use the service. Research Tree, which was established by former equity research analyst Rob Mundy, began operations last month. The company provides investment research from 20 different [...]
Cummings leaves TheCityUK for Investment Association top job April 5, 2016 The Investment Association (IA), which represents managers who handle upwards of £5.5 trillion, has recruited TheCityUK boss Chris Cummings as its new chief executive, following a six month search. Cummings will fill the void left by the departure of former IA chief Daniel Godfrey, who stepped down after a row with the groups members. “I [...]
ISA investors rushing to beat 2015/16 tax deadline might be searching for safer portfolios April 5, 2016 One in four savers are feeling more nervy than this time last year, as they prepare to shift their portfolios into less risky assets, according to new research out today. Swings on the stock markets, along with uncertainties surrounding the EU referendum, the Chinese economy and oil prices were all cited as reasons by retail [...]
Inflation’s going to rear its head again: Epic money printing through QE is going to cause a spurt of price rises April 5, 2016 Inflation, the silent force that raises prices, could be coming back with a vengeance. Whether it’s a pernicious tax that erodes ordinary people’s purchasing power or a necessary part of healthy economies is still open for debate. But inflation has been around since ancient times. The price of barley spiked in Babylon during the reign [...]
Blackrock’s biggest risks in the second quarter for investors April 5, 2016 The world's largest asset manager has flagged the biggest risks investors must watch out for in the second quarter of this year. Blackrock's quarterly global investment outlook, written by its global chief investment strategist, Richard Turnill, and his team, highlights some of the hurdles which could rile global markets. Chinese yuan devaluation They warn global markets could [...]
