Latest articles by Paul Amery
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Be prepared to make the most of ETFs
Tutorials There are potential pitfalls with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as with any other investment product – but by making sure you know what you're buying, you can avoid them. Paul Amery explains.
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Exchange-traded commodities: beware the contango gap
Features Investors on the exchange-traded commodity (ETC) market need to be aware of 'contango' - a phenomenon which cost nearly 20% in returns for five key commodity indices last year.
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Make sure you understand your tracker fund
Features If you have invested in any exchange-traded products, it is vitally important that you understand how your tracker's underlying investment is priced, says Paul Amery.
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Funds: Don't buy what you don't understand
Features With exchange traded funds (ETFs) straying into newer and more complex areas, the FSA recently decreed leveraged ETFs as generally unsuitable for the average retail investor. The clear message is never to buy anything you don't understand. Paul Amery reports.
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Funds: How to capitalise on rising interest rates
Features Despite poor fourth-quarter GDP figures, the markets believe a rise in interest rates is only a matter of time. Paul Amery looks at two exchange-traded funds which allow investors to gain if rates rise.
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How to avoid the pitfalls of bond ETFs
Features Global bond markets dwarf the equities markets. But they can be hard for private investors to trade in. That's where bond ETFs come in. But there can be pitfalls. Paul Amery explains how to avoid them.
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Funds: The two best ways to play clean energy
Features Since the credit crunch, alternative-energy stocks have underperformed the broad energy indices. But a number of factors suggest the sector is a good theme for the long term, says Paul Amery. Here, he tips the two best ways to play the alternative energy industry.
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Do copper-backed funds make sense?
Features Exchange-traded fund provider ETF Securities is to launch six exchange-traded commodities backed by industrial metals. But does this sort of fund make sense? Paul Amery investigates.
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When to use a currency-hedged ETF
Features Last week, iShares launched Europe's first currency-hedged exchange-traded funds. They are a valuable addition to investors' armoury - but when should you use them? Paul Amery explains.
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Funds: Are you paying too much tax?
Features If you've invested in an offshore equity fund, it pays to find out how the tax is calculated, says Paul Amery. It could make a big difference to your returns.
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Funds: Buy sectors, not whole markets
Features Investing in industry sector funds is a better way to get a diversified equity portfolio than just selecting broad market benchmarks, says Paul Amery.
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These index-linked gilts look too expensive
Features On the face of it, buying index-linked exchange-traded funds to insure against a revival of inflation seems sensible. But this particular fund is too expensive for a number of reasons, says Paul Amery.
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What currencies are in your ETFs?
Features Exchange-traded funds make it very easy for investors to get exposure to overseas markets. But it's important to understand what currency exposures you face, says Paul Amery.
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How to play currencies with ETCs
Features Exchange-traded currencies are trackers designed to appeal to high-net-worth individuals who want an easy way to deal in a range of global currencies. Paul Amery explains how to use them.
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How to get the best price with ETFs
Features One key advantage of exchange-traded funds is that they can be traded throughout the day. But there are a few tricks that you should know to get the best deal when trading one.
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Why don't tracker funds track the market?
Features A key selling point for exchange-traded funds is that most active fund managers fail to beat their benchmarks. But you can't always depend on ETFs to deliver the market return either. Paul Amery finds out why not.
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Should you buy commodity trackers?
Features Commodity trackers are the most complex type of exchange-traded product. So if you're thinking of using them, you really need to do your homework.
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Should you buy hedge-fund ETFs?
Features Beware of hedge-fund ETFs. They offer most of the costs of a hedge fund, with few of the advantages of exchange traded funds, says Paul Amery.
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