Archive for the 'Funds' Category

02 Dec

Why stockbrokers are overweight

Spencer Winfield at stockbroker Charles Stanley replies: When providing performance comparisons for a portfolio, a stockbroker or fund manager will normally compare the rise or fall of the portfolio they manage against a particular index or indices. The index will generally be chosen at the portfolio's creation and used as a benchmark against [...]

01 Dec

New Star: Investors’ questions answered

Beleaguered fund management group New Star Asset Management is locked in talks with its lenders over the group's £230m of debt after its shares fell back to an all-time low.
The situation has raised fears that investors may look for a quick exit from New Star funds. Already assets under management at [...]

30 Nov

New Star on critical list as shares plunge

John Duffield's struggling group said it was in 'advanced and constructive discussions' over its crippling £230m mountain of debt.
The request for shares to be suspended was made at the all-time low of just 14p this morning, having crashed 97% from a peak of 485p just 18 months ago. After the request was denied by [...]

29 Nov

Tumbling pound cheers UK gold investors

A rally in the price of gold over the past month has seen it rise from about $740 per ounce, at the start of November, to $814 this week. And while its value remains under the $840 seen at the beginning of 2008, and considerably below its peak of more than $1,000 in [...]

28 Nov

Big banks cash in on customers’ loan misery

The gap between the Bank of England base rate and the interest charged on personal loans has leapt from less than three percentage points to more than five in the last two months.
Many customers will need loans to stay afloat in the present climate. Hundreds of thousands rely on personal loans to consolidate other [...]

27 Nov

Woolworths and MFI in administration: 31,000 jobs at risk

Staff at some of Woolworths' 815 stores were in tears, fearing they will have no money to buy food and presents or pay their bills.
The iconic firm, famous in the past for its pick and mix sweets and sales of music, has a proud history which dates back almost 100 years in the UK.
Administrators [...]

27 Nov

MFI collapse: What can customers do?

Struggling MFI has been hit by falling demand for 'big ticket' goods as the housing market slumps and consumer confidence falls and despite a management buyout in September has gone into administration.
Administrators MCR have said they will be contacting customers who have outstanding orders as soon as they are able [...]

25 Nov

Guarantee that is not what it seems

But in the small print it says: 'We will exercise our authority in an appropriate way. However whilst the investments will be structured with a view to meeting your investment objective...we are unable to ensure that your investment objective will be met.'
Is this saying that regardless of what is stated in the brochure, the [...]

24 Nov

Why this problem with my Hip?

Andy Knee, managing director of property services business LMS, replies: This has most probably arisen because the buyer is obtaining a mortgage to fund part of the purchase price and the solicitor is having to meet the terms and conditions laid down by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. These insist that a search is not [...]

24 Nov

Are you entitled to a care home rebate?

But her son Don, 73, had another reason to raise a glass at the party last month. A few weeks earlier, Don, who has power of attorney over his mother's affairs, received a cheque on her behalf, refunding £8,600 in excess fees, after a six-month struggle with the local council.
Confusion over the rules setting [...]

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