AUTHOR
Max King
Max was for nearly 30 years a fund manager at Finsbury Asset Management, JO Hambro and Investec Asset Management. Responsibilities in the first two included the management of ten investment trusts; at IAM, he managed multi-asset funds. These funds were to a greater (Invested Managed Growth) or lesser extent investors in investment trusts and other closed end funds across the market spectrum. Before fund management, he qualified as a chartered accountant, worked in corporate finance and in risk arbitrage. He retired from full time work in late 2016.
See here for details of current investments held by Max.
Micro-cap stocks: how to get huge returns from tiny firms
Small cap stocks
Micro-cap stocks: how to get huge returns from tiny firms
Micro-cap stocks are often overlooked, but the British market has plenty of them and their potential is massive. Max King picks the best two investmen…
3 May 2021
What do investment trust directors do?
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What do investment trust directors do?
When you buy an investment rust you may not think twice about its directors. But they are an important part of what makes investment trusts such a suc…
27 Apr 2021
Renewable energy: how to cash in as the US goes green
Investment trusts
Renewable energy: how to cash in as the US goes green
A rapidly growing emphasis on renewable power in America will boost investors’ portfolios. Max King outlines the best ways to invest.
26 Apr 2021
Get decades of growth at a discount with this healthcare investment trust
Investment trusts
Get decades of growth at a discount with this healthcare investment trust
Healthcare is set for strong long-term expansion but looks cheap. That makes this investment trust worth buying, says Max King.
19 Apr 2021
Private equity funds: get strong returns from these bargain investment trusts
Investment trusts
Private equity funds: get strong returns from these bargain investment trusts
Private-equity investment trusts are a way to buy into a high-performing sector that’s out of reach for most individual investors. Many of these funds…
2 Apr 2021
What I learned from 15 years of investing in small companies
Funds
What I learned from 15 years of investing in small companies
Max King spent 15 years managing funds in the small-companies sector. Here he reveals the secrets of long-term investment success
2 Apr 2021
Why you should ignore the pessimists and invest now
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Why you should ignore the pessimists and invest now
There is widespread fear that massive fiscal stimulus will result in uncontrollable inflation. But don't worry, says Max King. Use the current market …
30 Mar 2021
Four of the best investment trusts for investing in emerging markets
Investment trusts
Four of the best investment trusts for investing in emerging markets
Investors need to tread very carefully in this risky sector. Here are the best ways to approach it
22 Mar 2021
Where to find value in the commercial property sector
Investment trusts
Where to find value in the commercial property sector
Commercial property – notably shopping centres and offices – has struggled due to Covid-19. But there are several promising real estate investment tru…
8 Mar 2021
Investing beyond China: how to buy into wider Asian markets
Investment trusts
Investing beyond China: how to buy into wider Asian markets
There are several reasons to be sceptical about China’s development, says Max King. What’s more, there is vast potential in other regional emerging ma…
26 Feb 2021
Why you should pay attention when investment trusts raise new money
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Why you should pay attention when investment trusts raise new money
There was a time when buying into an investment trust public offering was a bad idea. But things have changed, says Max King. Investors need to keep a…
23 Feb 2021
Cash in on the potential of US small-cap stocks with this investment trust
Small cap stocks
Cash in on the potential of US small-cap stocks with this investment trust
There is ample scope for the American market’s small-cap stocks to close the valuation gap with blue chips. Max King picks an investment trust perfect…
22 Feb 2021
Decimalisation: Britain’s “new pence” turn 50 years old
UK Economy
Decimalisation: Britain’s “new pence” turn 50 years old
In 1971 the UK adopted a decimal currency. The shift was widely thought to be a step towards joining the Common Market, but there was more to it than …
15 Feb 2021
UK stocks: how the FTSE 100 is finding its feet again
UK stockmarkets
UK stocks: how the FTSE 100 is finding its feet again
The FTSE 100, Britain’s blue-chip stockmarket index, has undergone constant churn in
the 37 years since its inception, says Max King. But it is now …
12 Feb 2021
Finsbury Growth & Income: an excellent example of why you should let your winners run and run
Investment trusts
Finsbury Growth & Income: an excellent example of why you should let your winners run and run
Nick Train’s Finsbury Growth & Income Trust finds top stocks for the very, very long term, says Max King.
8 Feb 2021
Should you risk buying into venture capital trusts (VCTs)?
Investment trusts
Should you risk buying into venture capital trusts (VCTs)?
Venture capital trusts (VCTs) are risky, but they are tax-efficient and focus on fast-growing private companies. David Stevenson picks a few to consid…
3 Feb 2021
Forget rebalancing – ditch your losers, not your winners
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Forget rebalancing – ditch your losers, not your winners
Investors are often told to regularly rebalance their portfolio and take profits from their winning holdings. But that can be a mistake, says Max King…
26 Jan 2021
Buy into the “contrarian” appeal of US growth stocks
Investment trusts
Buy into the “contrarian” appeal of US growth stocks
Investors should ignore the shift towards value stocks, says Max King, and stick with fast-growing American tech stocks. Here are two of the best inve…
26 Jan 2021
Four of the best funds for mining profits in gold
Gold
Four of the best funds for mining profits in gold
The gold-price upswing is set to endure, says Max King. These funds look the most promising.
13 Jan 2021
Six investment trusts to tuck away now – and six to sell
Investment trusts
Six investment trusts to tuck away now – and six to sell
Max King presents his round-up of the “lame ducks” of 2020 and highlights six “Cinderella” trusts: strong performers that have not received the recogn…
29 Dec 2020
Where to find sustainable growth in renewable energy
Renewables
Where to find sustainable growth in renewable energy
The renewable energy sector has come a long way, but there is still plenty of momentum in funds and utility stocks.
21 Dec 2020
Can you afford to ignore investment trusts?
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Can you afford to ignore investment trusts?
As this year has decisively shown, says Max King, the simplest route to outperformance has been via investment trusts. Here’s why you should invest in…
8 Dec 2020
A fund that can profit from insuring the risks we all face
Funds
A fund that can profit from insuring the risks we all face
The insurance sector is embarking on an upswing and boasts steady long-term returns, says Max King. This fund could help you profit.
7 Dec 2020
What today's investors can learn from the bear markets of the past
Investment strategy
What today's investors can learn from the bear markets of the past
Several key patterns emerge from a look at previous downturns, says Max King. The upshot is that fortune favours the brave – but don’t panic if you mi…
4 Dec 2020
Looking for income? Buy these three solid property funds
Investment trusts
Looking for income? Buy these three solid property funds
Apparent high-yielding bargains often turn out to be value traps. But these three property funds look like solid buys for income investors.
23 Nov 2020
Five top investment trusts to buy and forget until 2040
Investment trusts
Five top investment trusts to buy and forget until 2040
Picking winning long-term stocks is extremely difficult but, with a sensible spread of solid funds, investors can look forward to maximum gains with m…
6 Nov 2020
Does politics matter for investors?
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Does politics matter for investors?
Generally speaking, says Max King, markets don’t seem to care much about politics. But every now and again, politics really does matter quite a lot.
3 Nov 2020
Odyssean Investment Trust: making the best of difficult circumstances.
Investment trusts
Odyssean Investment Trust: making the best of difficult circumstances.
Odyssean Investment Trust, set up to profit from supporting “misunderstood companies”, is a mere three years old – but its record to date and managers…
2 Nov 2020
UK post-Covid recovery stocks: these 20 companies could be set to rocket
Share tips
UK post-Covid recovery stocks: these 20 companies could be set to rocket
Finding stocks with the potential to rise tenfold or even further is far easier said than done. But the pandemic has produced the most promising backd…
22 Oct 2020
Funds to buy UK small-cap stocks on a discount
Investment trusts
Funds to buy UK small-cap stocks on a discount
Investment trusts investing in smaller companies are recovering, yet share prices haven’t caught up, says Max King.
19 Oct 2020
Why it pays to take cries of “bubble” with a pinch of salt
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Why it pays to take cries of “bubble” with a pinch of salt
Many observers are pointing to a stockmarket “bubble” – especially in US tech stocks. But, says Max King, just because a lot of people are saying it, …
13 Oct 2020
Why the underperforming Temple Bar investment trust will deliver again
Investment trusts
Why the underperforming Temple Bar investment trust will deliver again
Temple Bar, the value-focused investment trust, has had a dreadful year, but new managers should turn it around.
13 Oct 2020
Why the government shouldn't raise taxes
UK Economy
Why the government shouldn't raise taxes
Tackling our deficit with new levies would be economically and politically suicidal, says Max King.
12 Oct 2020
Ethical investing: how ethical is your ESG fund?
ESG investing
Ethical investing: how ethical is your ESG fund?
There’s no doubt that environmental and other issues can have a huge impact on share prices – 2020 has proven that beyond doubt. But how can investors…
6 Oct 2020
Murray Income Trust: a rare star in the income sector
Investment trusts
Murray Income Trust: a rare star in the income sector
The Murray Income Trust is a reliable and promising pick in a struggling sector.
6 Oct 2020
Don’t be fooled by the illusion of safety in income
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Don’t be fooled by the illusion of safety in income
The UK income sector has suffered badly. Max King looks at what the might future look like, and what investors can learn from the experience.
15 Sep 2020