In our penultimate issue in the current weekly format the Shares team identifies some of the actively-managed funds and trusts they like the best from the thousands on offer to UK investors. We have not used any specific selection criteria to come up with our list, these are just our writers' best ideas based on our assessment of the relevant vehicle's track record, management and investment...

A couple of weeks ago, Shares took a look at a handful of 'under-the-radar' stocks held by some of the most popular funds readers would be familiar with, such as Fundsmith (B41YBW7), JPMorgan Growth & Income (JGGI) and Fidelity Special Situations (B88V3X4). In this feature, we are investigating 'under-the-radar' funds, little-known gems which in their own right could make a useful addition to...

If you've been investing for a while, there's a good chance that certain funds will have found their way into your portfolio. An S&P 500 and/or Nasdaq ETF are likely inclusions. FTSE 100, 250 and World Index trackers are very good bets, as are a handful of actively managed vehicles. Take Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7), for example. When Terry Smith launched the fund in late 2010, many investors...

'Quality investing' is the style pursued by the world's greatest investor Warren Buffett, who recently announced his retirement as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B:NYSE) after more than sixty years presiding over the Omaha-based investment powerhouse. Buffett's focus on only buying quality companies has been the bedrock of Berkshire's success - since 1965, the shares have increased...

When markets are volatile and the value of your portfolio is moving around on a day-to-day basis there can be some comfort to take from investments which offer a steady stream of income. The problem is, dividends can sometimes cut or cancelled in the face of uncertainty. Investment trusts, also referred to as closed-ended funds, can like other funds mitigate this risk by investing in a...

There has been a mixed reaction from retail investors to the current global stock market volatility brought about by the 'Liberation Day' tariff announcements on April 2. Some have used the Trump tariff announcements as a buying opportunity amid a global sell-off others have used the opportunity to protect and reposition portfolios, or just to raise cash. Charlie Musson, managing director of...

One of the key attractions of investments is the potential to earn a regular income. As in common in the world of personal finance, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach for income investing.There are diverse ways to obtain a regular stream of cash rewards from your investment ISA, so make sure you pick the right one for your needs. Here are five methods. 1. High YieldFor decades, investors...

JPMorgan European Growth & Income(JEGI) 110.9pMarket cap: £466.3 millionEuropean equities have outperformed their US counterparts by the widest margin since 2000 so far this year according to Morgan Stanley.All of the major European indices have rallied this year. The German DAX index has risen nearly 17%. France's CAC 40 has gained 11.5% and the UK's leading blue-chip index the FTSE 100 has...

A revised approach for FTSE 250 healthcare facilities owner Assura (AGR) by US buyout fund KKR (KKR:NYSE) and Stonepeak Partners brings UK M&A deal values so far this year to around £3.6 billion by our calculation.That is only around 25% of the value of deals announced in the first quarter of last year, although in fairness we haven't included Sidara's reported interest in energy services...

Listed infrastructure and renewable trusts have had a torrid time over the last three years with average discounts to NAV (net asset value) drifting out to between 30% and 40%.In our view the gloom and doom gone too far, with the headwinds impacting NAVs have starting to dissipate, opening the prospect of a strong recovery.We have noticed some green shoots of broad share price strength since...

Consolidation across the investment trust sector continues, against a backdrop of wide NAV (net asset value) discounts, pressure on sub-scale funds and shareholder activism.2024 proved a record year for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across the sector, with 11 mergers and eight trusts being acquired, and this trend has continued into 2025.On 7 February, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (JGGI)...

Deal creates £3.4 billion income giantBrings increased scale and liquiditySector's fourth-lowest ongoing chargeConsolidation is a growing theme across the investment trust sector against a backdrop of stubbornly-wide NAV (net asset value) discounts, increasing pressure on sub-scale funds and shareholder activism, and yet another intriguing combination has just been announced.JPMorgan Global...

Investment trusts have experienced challenges this year, with discounts remaining wide across various sectors and some consolidation occurring. However, certain trusts have performed well compared to both the wider market and their peer group. This article highlights the top performers across four of the Association of Investment Companies' most widely followed equity-facing sectors.GLOBALAn...

In the first part of a three-part series featuring opinions and ideas from some of the UK's leading fund managers, we asked which stocks have surprised them the most over the course of the 2024 and why.While it was hard to avoid the influence of AI (artificial intelligence) on portfolios, the breadth of responses was surprising and goes to show how skilled stock-pickers can turn up gems in...

In last week's magazine, Shares focused on the methods by which leading fund managers identify genuine long-term growth opportunities, covering everything from the need for a growth mindset to bottom-up stock picking and the need to factor in top-down considerations.Now we turn the spotlight on the regional markets, themes and stocks which have some of the market's most admired investors...

Identifying genuine growth stories is not easy but can be extremely rewarding. Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) may be the ultimate growth stock example now but who was flagging its potential 10 years ago when revenue and profit was just a fraction of what it is today and when the widespread application of AI was still restricted to think pieces in periodicals. Some did catch on early and would have...

Eight months in, 2024 is already a record year for M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in the investment trust sector.Trust boards are increasingly focused on value for money and shareholder returns amid persistently wide discounts to NAV (net asset value) and with activists nosing around. A major trend underway is mergers between sub-scale trusts with similar remits to create funds large and...

Funds can often be in vogue with investors thanks to a big-name manager or a past reputation, but just how well-earned is the popularity of the UK's most popular funds and investment trusts?In this article we've taken a look at the performance of a select group of funds which regularly feature among the most bought and most widely-held in the market to judge whether they are truly delivering...

Discounts and premiums to NAV (net asset value), which is the value of all the investments an investment trust holds minus any debt or loans, are among the trust universe's unique quirks and can confuse novice investors. At the moment the vast majority of trusts trade at a discount.Annabel Brodie-Smith, the AIC's (Association of Investment Companies) communications director, says: 'Only around...

A classic example of a superb business with staying power, The Coca-Cola Company (KO:NYSE) is blessed with iconic brands spearheaded by Coca-Cola or ?Coke?, the world?s most recognised soft drink synonymous with its red cans.Coca-Cola?s brands resonate with consumers around the world, making the New York-listed group?s products the beverage of choice for billions when at home or on the...