Mike Sheen
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FCA partners with Jersey regulator to probe new Woodford venture
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has broken its silence on Neil Woodford's return to fund management with confirmation that it is working alongside the Jersey regulator to share information on the new venture.
Woodford returns with new firm targeting Acacia life sciences portfolio
Neil Woodford has returned 16 months after the collapse of Woodford Investment Management with the launch of a new investment firm, which is working alongside Acacia Research to "advise" on an illiquid and unlisted portfolio of life sciences companies...
Government response 'crucial' as UK GDP nudges 1% higher in Q4 2020
UK GDP was 1.2% higher in December 2020 as eased lockdown restrictions for the month helped to bring total growth for the fourth quarter of the year to 1% overall, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.
European equity investors brace for volatility amid US election uncertainty
European equity markets opened lower this morning in response to the shock uncertainty over the outcome of the US Presidential Election, with the as-yet unclear result set to create near-term volatility and myriad of different implications for the continent’s...
BlackRock value report reveals fund liquidation, fee cuts and performance reviews
Fund giant BlackRock's first Assessment of Value (AoV) report covering its UK operations has revealed one fund liquidation, fee cuts for two vehicles and "enhanced performance monitoring" established for five underperforming funds.
Woolard: FCA set for 'painful lessons' in autumn reviews
Outgoing chief executive calls on regulator to change
Law firm considers compensation claims against Link over Woodford collapse
Legal claims for compensation are being considered against the Woodford Equity Income fund's (WEIF) authorised corporate director (ACD) Link Fund Solutions, which is accused of early-stage failures in the fund's collapse, a failure to act in the best...
Andrew Bailey: BoE readying further 'unprecedented' response to coronavirus crisis
The Bank of England (BoE) is "ready to do more" to fight the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the measures put in place to tackle it, including further interest rate cuts and an expansion of its corporate financing facility, according...
Negative interest rate debate becomes 'very real' as UK inflation plunges to 0.8%
The debate concerning negative interests in the UK has now become “very real” after the UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month inflation rate dipped to 0.8% in April from 1.5% in March, recording its lowest reading since August 2016 and putting it on...
Hedge funds hit with $66bn losses in February
$57.9bn of trading losses for the month
UK gilt funds lone positive performers in 'horror show' March
Investment Association (IA) UK gilt funds were the only fund sector to deliver positive returns in a "horror show" March, which saw the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic decimate the performance of most IA-registered vehicles.
BoE cuts rates to 0.1% in latest pandemic response
The Bank of England (BoE) has cut its interest rate by 15 basis points to 0.1% as the central bank moves to reduce the “economic shock” stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
Update: St James's Place latest to suspend property funds
St James's Place, Columbia Threadneedle, BMO Global Asset Management, Legal and General Investment Management, Aberdeen Standard Investments, Kames Capital and Janus Henderson have all suspended their open-ended UK property vehicles due to valuation concerns...
'Turbulent market' sees Kames property income fund suspended on valuation concerns
Kames Property Income and its feeder funds have been forced to suspend as a result of current “turbulent market conditions” making it impossible to accurately value property holdings, Professional Pensions' sister title Investment Week has learned.
Sunak commits £30bn fiscal stimulus in face of coronavirus
First budget of this parliament
Asset managers failing to lead the way on responsible investment
More than two-thirds of the $36trn of assets held by some of the world’s largest asset managers are being managed by responsible investment "laggards" and poor performers, while the industry currently has no stand-out leaders in the space, research shows....
Jupiter AM adds to fossil fuel transition pressure on Barclays
Jupiter Asset Management has become the latest investor to put pressure on Barclays Bank to phase out the provision of financial services to the fossil fuel sector and utilities that are not aligned with the Paris climate goals.
IA takes aim at 20% of FTSE 350 firms on board diversity failures
The Investment Association (IA) has written to nearly a fifth of FTSE 350 firms asking them to explain how they intend to improve the gender diversity of their boards, which continues to lag the Hampton-Alexander Review's target of 33% representation...
UK continues to lead way on governance amid increasing investor pressure
UK companies continue to lead the way on governance standards globally, despite an uptick in shareholder rebellions in 2019 as investors continue to ramp up pressure on investee firms, data suggests.