Emerging markets may be an attractive option at the moment, but investors shouldn't ignore managed UK funds; and why sexy names don't necessarily mean stellar performance.
Don't ignore UK funds
The astounding performance of emerging markets in recent years may have attracted many investors to high-risk funds, but wise investors should not ignore actively managed UK funds, according to a range of financial advisers in Investors Chronicle. UK funds offer low-risk, high-yield investments, and there is also no currency risk in investing in the UK.
According to Juliet Schooling of IFA Chelsea, investors should use UK equity income funds, such as Jupiter Income, as a primary holding because of their low volatility compared to pure growth funds. They also reinvest dividends, which can impact on returns (see chart). Justin Modray of IFA Bestinvest advises investors to diversify their portfolios across a wide range of managers and funds in order to benefit from varied styles and market performances. He recommends holding 50% of your UK portfolio in the FTSE 100, 30% in the FTSE Mid 250 and 20% in the FTSE Small Cap sector. His top choice open-ended funds are Axa Framlington UK Select Opportunities, Cazenove UK Growth & Income, Invesco Perpetual UK Aggressive, Liontrust First Growth and Merrill Lynch UK Dynamic. A cheap tracker fund, such as Fidelity Moneybuilder UK Index (total expense ratio of 0.3%) can also play a useful role in your portfolio.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The lure of sexy names
Alpha' is fund-management jargon for the return an individual fund manager can add to your investment. And more funds are now using the term in order to attract investors. This is because alpha' is the return fund managers attain that is extra to, or separate from, the normal movements of the stockmarket suggesting the delivery of outstanding returns that can "outperform the broader stockmarket", says Jenne Mannion in The Independent. But this "sexy" title "doesn't necessarily mean stellar performance".
-
What happens if you can’t pay your tax bill, and what is "Time to Pay"?Millions are due to file their tax return this Friday as the self-assessment deadline closes. Though the nightmare is not over until you pay the taxman what you owe - or face a penalty. But what happens if you can't afford to pay HMRC your tax bill, and what is "Time to Pay"?
-
What does Rachel Reeves’s plan for growth mean for UK investors?Rachel Reeves says she is going “further and faster” to kickstart the UK economy, but investors are unlikely to be persuaded
