Money Marketing
24 January 2007

  • Lords committee to investigate FSA

    25 Jan 2007

    A House of Lords select committee has been set up to investigate the FSA. The probe will explore the working methods of the regulator and their effectiveness.

  • MPs call for lenders to give fixed pledge

    25 Jan 2007

    An early day motion has been signed by 20 MPs calling for mortgage lenders to declare their intention to maintain fixed-rate products and help those finding it difficult to become homeowners.

  • A lot to learn

    25 Jan 2007

    The experts can tinker all they want with products but education is needed more.

  • AAM picks retail distribution chief

    25 Jan 2007

    Aegon Asset Management has appointed Mark Savage head of distribution on the retail side of the business.

  • Account cap could shrink

    25 Jan 2007

    Hints that Department for Work and Pensions could be prepared to take account of industry analysis.

  • Administrators in at YourHealth Plus

    25 Jan 2007

    Private medical insurance provider YourHealth Plus has gone into administration.

  • Adnitor to host first platform awards to recognise excellence in wrap provision

    30 Jan 2007

    After a promising 2006 where usage of and asset movement onto intermediary platforms has shown respectable growth, 2007 holds much promise for both providers and advisers operating in this space. Adnitor estimates that a further £35bn of assets will move to intermediary platforms over the next 12 months.In terms of new entrants the market also looks forward to the prospect of several strong propositions arriving, including Friends Provident, Axa and a revamped Skandia and Selestia ...

  • Adviser Fund Index

    25 Jan 2007

    Net retail sales in the Invest ment Management Association's UK equity income sector were impressive in 2006, hitting 2bn between January and November. This compared with 1.5bn for the whole of 2005 and 1.8bn in 2004. A number of firms have responded to increased demand with new and revamped products.

  • Advisers clash on asset allocation

    25 Jan 2007

    JS&P head of investments Andrew Wilson has slammed Hargreaves Lansdown's Mark Dampier's claim that asset allocation's importance is over-stated, arguing that Dampier is fighting mathematics.

  • Advisers have valuable role as rates rise

    25 Jan 2007

    The shock of this month's interest rate rise from 5-5.25 per cent will hurt borrowers particularly because of the cumulative effect.

  • Advisers missing out on £2.3bn of business

    25 Jan 2007

    Life company Partnership Assurance has warned that advisers are missing a huge business opportunity.

  • Aegon conference call on fixed income

    25 Jan 2007

    Aegon Asset Management is holding a global conference call on fixed income on February 6 at 11am, featur-ing fund managers Philip Milburn and John McNeill. IFAs can take part by pre-registering at www.asset.tv.

  • Aifa draws line on responsibilities

    25 Jan 2007

    Aifa warns there must be a clear line between provider and adviser responsibilities, with providers not intruding into the client-adviser relationship, creating competitive distortion or threatening independence of advisers through distributor selection.

  • Aifa publishes guide to Reits

    26 Jan 2007

    Aifa has published an introduction to real estate investment trusts for advisers which outlines the products including advantages and disadvantages.

  • Alliance & Leicester - Heavy Adverse Two Year Fixed Rate

    26 Jan 2007

    Alliance & LeicesterHeavy Adverse Two Year Fixed Rate

  • Alliance & Leicester - Medium Adverse Self-Certified Two Year Base Rate Tracker

    26 Jan 2007

    Alliance & LeicesterMedium Adverse Self-Certified Two Year Base Rate Tracker

  • Alliance Trust to widen share service

    25 Jan 2007

    Alliance Trust plans to open its online share-dealing service to the wider IFA market this quarter.

  • Are the kids all right?

    25 Jan 2007

    Few people believe Child Trust Fund Week will make much impact on a public that is largely financially illiterate, says Helen Pow.

  • Ashburton takes it on the Chin

    26 Jan 2007

    AshburtonChindia Equity Fund

  • Baby Boy

    25 Jan 2007

    Well done to Burns-Anderson finance director Peter Coleman, whose wife Laura gave birth to baby boy Harry on December 22. MM would like to offer warm congratulations to them both and hope the sleepless nights are few and far between.

  • Barclays Global Investors - iShares £ Index Linked Gilts

    26 Jan 2007

    Barclays Global InvestorsiShares £ Index Linked Gilts

  • Base ball hits home run

    25 Jan 2007

    Interest rates With one rise already this year and more on the way, Helen Pow reports on the market effects as base rate increases.

  • Bespoke Financial Consulting - CF Bespoke IPD UK Monthly Index Tracker Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Bespoke Financial ConsultingCF Bespoke IPD UK Monthly Index Tracker Fund

  • Bestinvest calls for Credit Suisse to cut fund charges

    25 Jan 2007

    Bestinvest says Credit Suisse should cut the charges on its income funds because it does not have a specialist manager.

  • Brewin Dolphin Securities - Edge Performance VCT

    26 Jan 2007

    Brewin Dolphin SecuritiesEdge Performance VCT

  • Briault is bookies' favourite for FSA

    25 Jan 2007

    Cantor Index has Clive Briault 6/4 favourite to take over as FSA chief executive, with Hector Sants at 2/1, David Kenmir at 4/1 and James Crosby at 6/1.

  • Bright Grey expands sales team

    29 Jan 2007

    Bright Grey is expanding its sales team by appointing four new sales consultants on its face-to-face team.

  • Britannia International - Optimum Growth Bond 18

    26 Jan 2007

    Britannia InternationalOptimum Growth Bond 18

  • Broker Talkback

    25 Jan 2007

    Do you think it matters to IFAs who takes over as the new FSA chief executive?

  • Brokers told to get ready for slump in loan business

    25 Jan 2007

    Brokers should brace themselves for a year of falling business due to rising interest rates and high swap rates.

  • Bullet proof

    25 Jan 2007

    Falcon IFA member Mike Knott is hopping aboard an Enfield Bullet motorcycle and riding 2,000km across India to raise money for four charities.Knott (pictured) is spending 14 days on the vintage two-wheeler to raise money for the Rainbow Trust, World Wildlife Fund, Indian charity Adventure Ashram, for provision of medical care, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. He is aiming for 7,000 in sponsorship.He can be contacted at knottmike@gmail.com.

  • Catalyst Investment Group - Catalyst Stargate EIS Growth Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Catalyst Investment GroupCatalyst Stargate EIS Growth Fund

  • Catalyst teams up with Stargate

    26 Jan 2007

    Catalyst Investment Group has teamed up with Stargate Capital to launch the Catalyst Stargate growth EIS fund.

  • Chadborn slams scare tactics of PPI chasers

    25 Jan 2007

    CBK principle Peter Chadborn says payment protection insurance claim-chasers should face the same prohibition against scaremongering as advisers selling critical-illness cover.

  • Check into hotel room with Aegon Sipp deal

    25 Jan 2007

    Aegon has added buy-to-let company GuestInvest to its Sipp as part of the expansion of its Sipp property portfolio.

  • Cheshire Building Society - Self Cert Two Year Fixed Rate

    26 Jan 2007

    Cheshire Building SocietySelf Cert Two Year Fixed Rate

  • Cheshire gets flexible

    26 Jan 2007

    Cheshire Building SocietySelf Cert Two Year Fixed Rate

  • Chindia Inc

    25 Jan 2007

    It is difficult to pick up any global economic report nowadays without seeing India and China featured prominently.

  • City Financial - Liquidity Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    City FinancialLiquidity Fund

  • Clerical Medical offers extra allocation for online application

    24 Jan 2007

    Clerical Medical is offering new investment bond customers an extra 1% allocation if applications are made online.

  • Close Ventures - Close Enterprise VCT

    26 Jan 2007

    Close VenturesClose Enterprise VCT

  • Closed run thing

    25 Jan 2007

    By the time you read this, I will have attended my first Association of Investment Companies roadshow of 2007. Or at least, I hope I will have done. Writing this, I am only too aware that our weather forecasters are expecting the arrival of winter this week.

  • Clouds on the horizon

    25 Jan 2007

    Guest speaker at Falcon's annual conference Arthur Lloyd raised a giggle when he was talking about the negative outlook of folk in the UK.Up and about early one morning, the lively Scot was enjoying the crisp, bright blue-skied morning and stopped at his local petrol station to fill up his car."What a beautiful morning," he said to the teller. "Aye but we'll f**king pay for it tomorrow," he grunted back.

  • Commission boost on Jupiter funds

    25 Jan 2007

    Jupiter is offering enhanced commission on 26 of its funds. Advisers can earn up to 4.25 per cent on all lump-sum investments and transfers into a selection of the group's income, growth and fund of fund options.

  • Core Capital - Core VCT IV and V

    26 Jan 2007

    Core CapitalCore VCT IV and V

  • Correspondent's Week

    25 Jan 2007

    This week by Sunday Times journalist Ali Hussain.

  • Default dilemma

    25 Jan 2007

    Why are employees being shoved into second-rate default funds in their droves?

  • Dial up for commercial property

    26 Jan 2007

    Seven Dials Financial has launched its first fund, a fund of institutional European commercial property funds.

  • Disillusioned Reid quits Aifa

    25 Jan 2007

    Personal Finance Society vice-president Robert Reid has left Aifa, saying he is disillusioned with its views on the future of the industry.

  • Downing Corporate Finance - Pennine Aim VCT - D Shares

    26 Jan 2007

    Downing Corporate FinancePennine Aim VCT - D Shares

  • Downing takes Aim

    26 Jan 2007

    Downing Corporate Finance is offering D shares in the Pennine Aim VCT, a venture capital trust established in January 1996.

  • Duffy onslaught at 'mediocre, overpaid' mortgage advisers

    25 Jan 2007

    Hamptons International Mortgages managing director Kevin Duffy says "mediocre" and overpaid mortgage advisers are plaguing the market.

  • Edge VCT moves to the beat

    26 Jan 2007

    The team behind the Edge performance VCT is looking to raise money for C shares as well as raising money for a second VCT investing in the promotion of live music and other events

  • Equity release market witnesses minimal growth in 2006

    29 Jan 2007

    The equity release market continued to struggle to significantly grow in 2006.

  • European Court of Justice rules Government’s pension protection inadequate

    25 Jan 2007

    The European Court of Justice has ruled the Government’s protection for those who lost their pensions when schemes went bust was ‘inadequate’, but fell short of ordering compensation.The case will now go back to the UK High Court which could then order compensation to the estimated 125,000 people who lost out when their occupational schemes were wound-up.The outcome may also have a massive bearing on the Pension Protection Fund, raising the burden for UK firms by forcing the PPF ...

  • Executives admit DC scheme faults

    25 Jan 2007

    Half of the senior financial executives who took part in a Fidelity survey of 100 leading companies' attitudes to corporate pensions have acknowledged that their definedcontribution schemes will not allow employees to retire in comfort.

  • Falcon committee will oversee Brunel Fofs

    25 Jan 2007

    Falcon has set up a investment committee to oversee its Brunel fund of funds range to ensure their investment objectives are met, citing the furore over the Fidelity special situations split as a situation it aims to avoid.

  • Fears over financial apathy raised by Picture

    24 Jan 2007

    A new report launched today by secured loan provider Picture Financial has revealed that financial apathy is leaving consumers at risk, as they shy away from money management. It says that despite over 78 per cent of people feeling comfortable with their levels of credit, one in three are still unaware of how much they are paying back each month and the total amount of their outstanding credit.

  • Fears that Sipp firms will drop out over strict capital rules

    25 Jan 2007

    Many Sipp providers are failing to apply for authorisation because they are struggling to meet strict capital-adeq-uacy requirements, says Hornbuckle Mitchell managing director Neil Marsh.

  • Fidelity offers discounts on ISA and Pep transfers

    25 Jan 2007

    Fidelity is offering discounts on Pep and ISA transfers to its multi-manager Oeic range and multi-asset strategic fund until April 5.

  • Fidelity's split success

    25 Jan 2007

    Jorma Korhonen, manager of Fidelity's £2.8bn global special situations fund, has sounded a warning about emerging markets, saying his holdings in emerging sectors stand at only at 5 per cent.

  • Financial Services Forum chief joins Teamspirit

    25 Jan 2007

    Financial Services Forum founder and chief executive Anthony Thomson has joined the board of marketing agency Teamspirit.Thomson joins the seven current board members as a non-executive director.Teamspirit managing director Jo Parker says: “As we look to grow the business, he will be able to provide us with a wealth of industry knowledge and advise us on external trends that may affect the company.”Thomson says: “The agency is doing some great things within the financial services ...

  • Float or sale for £600m Hargreaves Lansdown

    25 Jan 2007

    Founders own 80% of company as they look to diversify their assets.

  • Fraud is being swept under the carpet

    25 Jan 2007

    I was recently approached by an old friend and his wife who were both in some distress after having had their endowment policy encashed by a fraudster for a total of around £160,000.

  • FSA Chief Executive: Depolarisation was black spot

    25 Jan 2007

    When John Tiner steps down in July, he will have been at the regulator for six years and chief executive for three but the industry is split on the legacy he will leave behind.

  • FSA Chief Executive: Good timing as Tiner aims for private sector

    25 Jan 2007

    John Tiner's decision to leave the FSA took some by surprise but industry experts suggest that the timing of the move is a combination of good governance and personal ambition.

  • FSA Chief Executive: Will it be an inside or an outside job?

    25 Jan 2007

    John Tiner will "pass on the baton" of chief executive in the middle of the FSA's move to principle-based regulation and with the retail distribution review in full swing.

  • FSA fines GE Capital Bank £610,000 for PPI failings

    30 Jan 2007

    The FSA has fined GE Capital Bank £610,000 for failing to have adequate systems and controls in place for selling payment protection insurance.

  • FSA to force lenders to justify increases to exit fees

    26 Jan 2007

    The FSA is to force lenders to justify exit fee charges above the amount charged when the customer originally entered into the mortgage, took out a further advance or changed products.The move also paves the way for past customers to recieve a refund when they have paid a higher exit fee than originally agreed as the FSA says it expects lenders to treat past customers in the same way as current ones.The clampdown comes after concern customers were being treated unfairly by being ...

  • FSCS makes non-exec appointments

    29 Jan 2007

    The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has appointed Tony Ashford and Rosalind Reston as non-executive directors.Ashford is currently chairman of the HSBC Pensions Trust and a non-executive director of AIB and the Jubilee Sailing Trust. Reston is a solicitor and recently retired partner at Lovells LLP.FSCS board chairman David Hall says: “Tony Ashford and Rosalind Reston are joining us at an important time for the scheme, and each brings a wealth of experience that will be ...

  • FSCS to sue precipice providers for 30m

    25 Jan 2007

    The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is pursuing precipice bond providers for up to 30m in an effort to recover cash paid out on misselling claims where the adviser firms have gone bust.

  • Fundsnetwork combines teams

    25 Jan 2007

    Fundsnetwork is amalgam-ating its sales and market-ing teams. Head of sales Simon Burgess and north regional sales manager Jacki Platt are leaving. Head of marketing Rob Fisher will run the team and further job cuts are expected.

  • Garrett-Cox leaves Morley

    30 Jan 2007

    Morley Fund Management chief investment office Katherine Garrett-Cox has resigned and will be joining Alliance Trust in May 2007.

  • Goals for 2007

    25 Jan 2007

    So that was 2006. By any measure, not a bad year for the mortgage industry. The housing market continued to prosper and most will be grateful that house price inflation has become rather less frantic.

  • Government in talks with lenders over green mortgages

    25 Jan 2007

    The Government has revealed that ministers are in discussion with the financial services industry about providing green mortgages.

  • Growing gains

    25 Jan 2007

    Investors are sticking with UK equity income funds which offer medium to long-term growth potential.

  • Half and half from L&G

    26 Jan 2007

    Legal & GeneralGuaranteed Income and Capital Bond 4

  • Halifax - Intermediary Exclusive 4.99% Two Year Fixed

    26 Jan 2007

    HalifaxIntermediary Exclusive 4.99% Two Year Fixed

  • Halifax retention scheme criticised

    25 Jan 2007

    Halifax's mortgage retention scheme has been criticised by brokers for offering poor rates.

  • Hard cash

    25 Jan 2007

    One reality TV programme that may rise above the standard of trailer trash is a new series starting on Sky called Hard Sell. This will follow an as yet unnamed high-profile sales Svengali as he tries to identify cures for underperforming salesforces. Sound familiar?

  • Harry Potter and the birthday of fear

    25 Jan 2007

    Standard Life's Mick "Potter" James gets a flattering makeover as the famous wizard to celebrate his 40th year. His team doctored the poster as a surprise for Mick, who is possibly the youngest-looking 40-year-old that the Diary has ever seen.

  • Hartford fails to hit the mark

    25 Jan 2007

    The recent article in Money Marketing headlined, Hartford's hits and myths of retirement raises the issue of with-profits funds moving away from equities in market downturns but fails to consider the counter-argument when markets rally.

  • Higgins to head HBOS mortgages

    25 Jan 2007

    HBOS has appointed Joe Higgins as its new head of mortgages to work alongside intermediaries boss Nigel Stockton.

  • HSBC and Standard Life teams up for Sipp launch

    30 Jan 2007

    HSBC has joined forces with Standard Life to launch a new Sipp proposition designed to enhance the bank’s current pension portfolio and bridge the gap between its stakeholder pension and SSAS/SIPP Practice.

  • HSBC Investments - HSBC GIF Bric Markets Equity Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    HSBC InvestmentsHSBC GIF Bric Markets Equity Fund

  • HSBC Investments appoints global head of emerging markets business

    30 Jan 2007

    HSBC Investments has appointed Christian Deseglise to the new position of global head of emerging markets business.

  • Hutton pledge on protected rights

    25 Jan 2007

    The Government has allayed fears of another pension U-turn by pledging to press ahead with protected rights changes proposed by the DWP.

  • Impromptu party goes like a charm

    25 Jan 2007

    Retirement Plus managing director Duncan Young had no trouble finishing off his household's surplus food and drink after the festive season.He got a call from his 18-year-old daughter on Saturday afternoon asking if she could bring a few friends back. "How many?" was the not unreasonable question. "About 50", came the reply. Young gamely (or bravely) gave the go-ahead. "They were all charming people," he said. "We got the last of them out around 2.30am and I was still exhausted on Monday."

  • IN Partnership chooses The Exchange

    29 Jan 2007

    IN Partnership will now use The Exchange’s Exweb portal on an exclusive basis.

  • Industry meets FSA’s challenge on contract certainty

    24 Jan 2007

    The FSA has announced the insurance industry has met the challenge laid down to achieve a solution to contract certainty in the UK.This follows a meeting with insurance industry leaders today in which the industry reported 90 per cent of contracts in the subscription market and 88 per cent in the non-subscription market are now achieving contract certainty.In December 2004 chief executive John Tiner challenged the insurance industry to end the “deal now, deal later” practice in ...

  • Ingenious ventures forth

    26 Jan 2007

    Ingenious VenturesIngenious Live VCT1 and VCT2

  • Into the unknown

    25 Jan 2007

    Helen Pow gets in the know as she analyses the effects of unpredictable events on world stockmarkets.

  • It shouldn't happen to a Pet

    25 Jan 2007

    Changes to the trust rules mean it is vital to make gifts in the right order.

  • Japanese mandate moves

    25 Jan 2007

    Skandia Investment Management has appointed AllianceBernstein to run its Japan mandate within its actively managed and cautious ranges.

  • Just rewards

    25 Jan 2007

    Funds of funds' total expense ratios have been criticised following the publication of analysis by Lipper Fitzrovia, the well-respected research agency that has a habit of getting to the bottom of things. Lipper Fitzrovia announced that Fof Ters were, in fact, only 50 per cent more than single manager funds, not 100 per cent more (the famous double charging) that has been widely reported for many years.

  • Kensington sells TML as 2006 lending levels rise

    30 Jan 2007

    Kensington Group has sold its direct-to-consumer business TML following a strategic review of the business.

  • Keydata - Dynamic Growth Plan 15

    26 Jan 2007

    KeydataDynamic Growth Plan 15

  • L&G adds funds to portfolio plus Sipp

    25 Jan 2007

    Legal & General has added 17 funds to its portfolio plus Sipp, taking the total fund choice to over 270. The new funds will also be available on portfolio plus trustee investment plan and 15 of the funds on its portfolio bond.

  • L&G cracks IHT nut

    26 Jan 2007

    Legal & GeneralDiscounted Gift Scheme

  • Lambeth walk for Skandia

    25 Jan 2007

    The crew at Skandia have moved into their new London residence at Old Mutual Place in Lambeth Hill.The open-plan, sloping-floored maze-like building is taking some getting used to. Apparently, the old Skandia London office had private rooms and "nice ladies that brought you cups of tea." (Source: PR Alex Jones).But the new building boasts an impressive art collection and stunning river views. We hear it outshines Southampton but is not a patch on Skandia's Stockholm offices.

  • Leeds Building Society - Offset Buy To Let Lifetime Tracker

    26 Jan 2007

    Leeds Building SocietyOffset Buy To Let Lifetime Tracker

  • Lenders hit back in fix furore

    25 Jan 2007

    Lenders have hit back at claims that they aim to profit by withdrawing fixed-rate mortgages.

  • Means to an end

    25 Jan 2007

    The Government claims that the Pensions Bill will see many more people better off in retirement but IFAs and industry experts says it fails to tackle the issue of means-testing. Gregor Watt reports.

  • Mellon Global Investments - Mellon Japan Equity Value Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Mellon Global InvestmentsMellon Japan Equity Value Fund

  • Misys expects fall in Sesame numbers

    25 Jan 2007

    Misys says it is expecting Sesame's network to see a drop-off in numbers in favour of multi-tie proposition Sesame Select.

  • Morley bond fund spans yield spreads

    25 Jan 2007

    Morley Fund Management is offering a new bond fund that taps into the narrowing yield spreads between emerging and developed markets.

  • Mortgages to fall back after boom

    25 Jan 2007

    Rate rises set to slow sector following record lending.

  • Move to scrap age restriction on death benefits

    25 Jan 2007

    Tory Shadow pensions minister Nigel Waterson has tabled proposals to remove age restrictions on annuity protection lump-sum death benefits.

  • MPs urged to probe means-testing gulf

    25 Jan 2007

    The Conservatives have called for the Pension Bill's standing committee to take advantage of new Parliamentary powers to examine the gulf between the DWP and Pensions Policy Institute means-testing projections.

  • National treasure

    25 Jan 2007

    Why the new national advice service will be good for IFAs as well as consumers.

  • NatWest International - Quartet Guaranteed Stockmarket Bond 3

    26 Jan 2007

    NatWest InternationalQuartet Guaranteed Stockmarket Bond 3

  • NDF Administration - NDF Growth Kick Out Plan January ’07

    26 Jan 2007

    NDF AdministrationNDF Growth Kick Out Plan January ’07

  • Neptune shows green fingers

    26 Jan 2007

    Neptune Investment Management has launched a fund that invests mainly in companies that are aiming to improve the environment.

  • New fear over FSA exit fee survey

    25 Jan 2007

    Fears have been raised that the FSA has again allowed the industry to manipulate the output of its mortgage exit fees investigation.

  • Newton Investment Management - Phoenix Multi Asset Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Newton Investment ManagementPhoenix Multi Asset Fund

  • Newton Phoenix fired up for asset classes

    26 Jan 2007

    Newton Investment ManagementPhoenix Multi Asset Fund

  • No January sales at the swap shop

    25 Jan 2007

    Guy Anker says rising swap rates are partly behind the decision by many lenders to pull their fixed-rate deals.

  • No trail on orphans, says Paymentshield

    25 Jan 2007

    Paymentshield chief executive Stuart Pender has criticised advisers for leaving orphan clients behind when they retire, insisting they should not be paid trail commission.

  • NU rejects wrap claims and slams supermarkets

    25 Jan 2007

    Norwich Union director of business development Simon Massey has rubbished rumours that its Lifetime wrap has stopped accepting new business and has hit out at fund supermarket platforms, saying they lack transparency.

  • Out of Context

    25 Jan 2007

    "I am available for weddings, bar mitzvahs and funerals. Without compliance as well so I can even be a bit risque."

  • Oval takes over Futurity

    25 Jan 2007

    Insurance broker Oval has bought a second Scottish IFA firm with the acquisition of Futurity.

  • Oxford Capital Partners - Oxford Gateway Fund No 4

    26 Jan 2007

    Oxford Capital PartnersOxford Gateway Fund No 4

  • Partnership pensions for shares

    25 Jan 2007

    Origen is introducing a partnership pension scheme to enable employees of its corporate clients to transfer shares from employer share incentive schemes into their pensions.

  • Passing trade

    25 Jan 2007

    I am now turning my attention away from pensions towards corporate planning issues, starting with a subject known to many advisers as director share purchase although this is not entirely accurate.

  • Paternoster announces buy-out schemes of £300m

    24 Jan 2007

    Defined-benefit consolidator Paternoster has announced that it has been selected by pension fund trustees as the annuity provider for schemes totalling £300 million in 2006.

  • Pension numbers

    25 Jan 2007

    The Government's claim that the new personal pension accounts will represent £2 for every £1 saved deal for investors is under intense scrutiny.

  • Personal danger warning

    25 Jan 2007

    Axa has warned of the dangers of people being allowed to save up to £5,000 per year in pension personal accounts without getting advice.

  • Pet cover outsells PMI by five to one

    25 Jan 2007

    Private medical insurance is outsold five to one by pet insurance, according to a Defaqto report which urges the industry to make PMI service standards more transparent.

  • Pink Home Loans - BM Solutions Buy To Let BBR Minus 0.06%

    26 Jan 2007

    Pink Home LoansBM Solutions Buy To Let BBR Minus 0.06%

  • Policy fraudster gets away with £160,000

    25 Jan 2007

    Norwich Union has been accused of not doing enough to prevent fraud after one of its policyholders had his endowment policy cashed in by a fraudster.

  • Positive forces

    25 Jan 2007

    Those who look on the bright side will find much to be cheerful about in 2007.

  • Premier Fund Managers - Global Income Plan - Limited Editions No 34

    26 Jan 2007

    Premier Fund ManagersGlobal Income Plan - Limited Editions No 34

  • Property matters

    25 Jan 2007

    With the recent news that Fidelity Funds network's best selling sector for 2006 was the myriad of the specialist sector, property funds being a particularly favourite choice, the first quarter of this year will be packed full of property fund launches.

  • Pru looks at orphan scheme

    25 Jan 2007

    Prudential is understood to be looking at a process called a scheme of arrangement rather than a reattribution of its £9bn inherited estate, which would mean the firm would only need 75 per cent of policyholders to agree with any potential deal.

  • Pru offloads Egg for £575m

    29 Jan 2007

    Prudential has sold its UK banking business Egg for £575 million to Citigroup and has agreed a distribution agreement with the Group.

  • Raising the rooftop

    25 Jan 2007

    Lender Profile After recent setbacks, sub-prime lender Rooftop is aiming for growth of 20 to 30 per cent. Guy Anker reports.

  • Reit fund sets the Standard

    26 Jan 2007

    Standard Life Investments has launched two funds – one onshore and one offshore - that invest globally in Reits and other property-related equities.

  • Rics expresses further doubt over Hips

    26 Jan 2007

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors still has serious concerns over the implementation of Hips, despite yesterday’s Government announcement that was aimed at speeding up the home-buying process.

  • Rock Capital moves into office sector

    26 Jan 2007

    Rock Capital is to take advantage of strong demand in the Glasgow office sector with the launch of the City Park Jersey Unit Trust.

  • Rooftop plugs £200k gap

    25 Jan 2007

    Rooftop has again been forced to plug a six-figure hole in one of its securitised pools of loans.

  • Running out of credit

    25 Jan 2007

    Chris Salih measures the scale of the latest blow dealt to Credit Suisse with the news that income guru Bill Mott is joining start-up firm Psigma Asset Management.

  • Sainsbury's Bank's Clark joins Widows

    30 Jan 2007

    Richard Clark has joined Scottish Widows Bank has appointed Richard Clark as head of product development and marketing.

  • Sarasin Chiswell - Sarasin Real Estate Equity IIID Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Sarasin ChiswellSarasin Real Estate Equity IIID Fund

  • Sarasin Chiswell - Sarasin UK Equity Income Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Sarasin ChiswellSarasin UK Equity Income Fund

  • Sarasin rises to income challenge

    26 Jan 2007

    Sarasin Chiswell has brought out an Oeic that aims for a rising income and capital growth by investing in a concentrated portfolio of 25 equally weighted stocks.

  • Sarasin widens property gates

    26 Jan 2007

    Sarasin ChiswellSarasin Real Estate Equity IIID Fund

  • School Britannia

    25 Jan 2007

    In the small New Forest village I go to most weekends, there is little to do other stay at home or pinball your way round all the local pubs. It was on one of these pub crawls that I met Jack, who makes a living from doing odd jobs around the village.

  • Scottish Widows Investment Partnership - Swip Diversified Assets Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Scottish Widows Investment PartnershipSwip Diversified Assets Fund

  • Seven Dials Financial - European Property Fund

    26 Jan 2007

    Seven Dials FinancialEuropean Property Fund

  • Six more Fidelity Luxembourg funds available through an Isa

    30 Jan 2007

    Fidelity International has announced six more of its Luxembourg registered funds are available through an Isa.The newly available funds include three new asset classes from Fidelity- Fidelity funds Asian special situations, emerging markets and Latin America equity funds.Fidelity funds America, Euro blue chip and international bond funds have also been added.Fidelity International head of IFA channel Peter Hicks says: “With Isas now a permanent part of the UK savings landscape ...

  • Skandia warning over taxfree cash

    25 Jan 2007

    Skandia is warning that advisers must check if clients consolidating occupational pension schemes are entitled to more than 25 per cent tax-free cash before initiating a pension transfer.

  • Smith & Pinching lays foundations for Fof

    25 Jan 2007

    Smith & Pinching Portfolio Management expects to launch its proposed global property fund of funds in June and is putting together the prospectus for FSA approval.

  • Specialist success built on property

    25 Jan 2007

    The specialist sector has overtaken UK equity income as the top-selling sector across Isas, Sipps and onshore investment bond wrappers, says FundsNetwork.

  • Standard and Friends to share wrap legacy data

    25 Jan 2007

    Advisers can avoid problems of re-registering assets and concentrate on clients.

  • Standard Life chief apologises for racist blunder

    25 Jan 2007

    Standard Life life and pensions chief executive Trevor Matthews has apologised after a member of staff complained about his public use of a racist phrase.

  • Standard slams outdated transfer values

    25 Jan 2007

    Standard Life is warning that the Department for Work and Pensions' new measures for calculating transfer values maintain the status quo of unrealistic and outdated actuarial assumptions.

  • Star turn from Miton

    26 Jan 2007

    MitonOptimal UKCF Miton Acturus

  • Stock tactics

    25 Jan 2007

    There are a number of undervalued opportunities and a stockpicking approach is essential.

  • Stuart Pender

    25 Jan 2007

    The chief executive of Paymentshield believes in making things happen and in his two years at the firm he has rebuilt the management team and, after a big takeover deal with one of the major general insurance brands, is now set on a five-year plan of aggressive growth. Interview by Nicola York.

  • Sumus profits increase by 34%

    25 Jan 2007

    Falcon Group, Financial Synergies and Financial Services Advisory and Support parent Sumus has reported a 33.8 per cent year on year increase in profit from £628,000 to £840,000 for the year ended September 30.

  • Survival at stake for sub-prime lenders

    25 Jan 2007

    Kensington Group chief executive John Maltby has questioned whether some sub-prime lenders can survive due to the "unsustainable" nature of products on offer.

  • SWIP showcases talent

    26 Jan 2007

    Scottish Widows Investment Partnership is showcasing its management skills across different asset classes with the launch of the Swip diversified assets fund.

  • The chief exec stakes

    25 Jan 2007

    Paul McMillan assesses the odds on some of the FSA contenders.

  • The cutting pledge

    25 Jan 2007

    Here are my final 10 New Year resolutions to boost financial advisers' businesses in 2007.

  • Tories attack 'sloppy' pension projections

    25 Jan 2007

    'Government's personal account calculations could lead to mother of all misselling scandals'

  • Treasury approval is needed

    25 Jan 2007

    The appointment of a new FSA chief executive could be one of the last jobs of the current Chancellor or one of the first jobs of his replacement.

  • Trusty steeds or old nags?

    25 Jan 2007

    Some of the old-timers in the investment trust industry still have some life in their old legs, judging by the recent resurgence, but James Phillipps says some of the best known trusts are lagging behind. Can they be spurred on to better performance??

  • Turning point

    25 Jan 2007

    In today's volatile stockmarkets, it is very difficult for the average investor without a huge portfolio to diversify sufficiently into each region. The UK stockmarket still looks good despite the heavy falls in oil shares and the variable results from retailers but it is important to diversify globally and to choose funds where the manager has considerable experience.

  • Turnover leaps at Hornbuckle Mitchell

    25 Jan 2007

    Sipp and SSAS specialist Hornbuckle Mitchell is aiming for expansion after delivering a 38 per cent rise in turnover in 2006.

  • Unicorn tells tale of British legends

    26 Jan 2007

    Unicorn Asset Management/OC DigestOutstanding British Companies Fund

  • Unqualified people hold centre ground

    25 Jan 2007

    Why should Clare Spottiswoode or anyone else be exempt from being qualified from giving financial advice?

  • Virgin set for mortgage return

    25 Jan 2007

    Virgin Money is planning to re-enter the UK mortgage market.

  • Watchdog critic leads FSA review of sustainability

    25 Jan 2007

    The FSA has unveiled the full line-up of the industry figures who will lead the five working groups feeding into the retail distribution review.

  • Widows updates flexible options bond

    25 Jan 2007

    Scottish Widows has added three new product features to its flexible options bond.

  • Will Concordia lift off?

    25 Jan 2007

    Our panel of experts debate whether the five mortgage broking giants behind the Concordia consortium - Alexander Hall.

  • Woolwich - City Mortgage 2

    26 Jan 2007

    WoolwichCity Mortgage 2

  • Woolwich targest City slickers

    26 Jan 2007

    WoolwichCity Mortgage 2

  • World income pays dividends for JPMorgan

    26 Jan 2007

    JPMorgan Asset Management is exploring international opportunities within the equity income sector for the new JPM global equity income fund.

  • Zurich hopes for PTA boost

    25 Jan 2007

    Appeal for Treasury rethink after product is shelved.

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