Investing in small and micro-cap stocks can be a risky exercise at the best of times, which is probably why funds and especially actively managed investment trusts have proved so popular. But there’s been a weight of academic research into small-cap investing, and it’s increasingly suggesting that small caps, especially in the UK, might not

Active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are all the rage at the moment in funds land and may overtake investment trusts in the not-too-distant future. Crucially big, well-known names in fund management are lining up behind the idea. We dig a bit deeper. Plus, a deep dive into the world of Japanese benchmarks and funds. Active ETFs

Global stock market indices are widely used benchmarks and also form the core of a huge and growing range of exchange-traded funds. But what are the differences between these various indices? Taking that idea of global equities in one fund, Wisdom Tree has just issued what I think is a cracking one-fund solution, an ETF

In this month’s Funds Focus, David Stevenson looks at a recent report on the consolidation of investment trusts which has some quite revealing headline numbers. Plus he casts his eye over CLO & Charteris Funds and Equal Weight ETFs. We also ask whether it’s time to switch out of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that track

In this month’s funds overview, we revisit the exciting world of gold and especially gold trackers which provide a regular income via options writing strategies. We also look at a very adventurous way of generating a big regular income, all through a well-established and successful investment trust. We also quickly glance at a new exchange-traded

Gold prices are moving steadily higher, yet most investors shun the shiny precious stuff. This month’s funds article looks at gold as an asset class, why professionals dislike it, and why UK investors have done well out of the precious metal. It also examines an innovative new way to invest in gold AND generate an

With markets, the US ones in particular, in a bullish mood over the summer months, and volatility still well below long-term averages (even after the recent tech sell-off), our monthly look at funds continues its search for ideas that could hedge downside risk, focusing this time on managed futures funds. On a more optimistic note,

With global stock markets in bullish form and the all-important US benchmark, the S&P 500, threatening to crash past the psychologically important 5500 level, our monthly fund’s report spins through some left-field ideas for bears and bulls from the world of ETFs and investment trusts. We look at everything from strategies that benefit from sudden

Our monthly funds roundup looks at why prospects for the UK economy and funds investing in our local markets might be looking up, the general election notwithstanding. We also repeat the bull case for gold and look at a model that suggests that gold could push closer to $2750 an ounce in an optimistic scenario.

Our regular monthly funds column looks at the bidding battle at music royalties fund Hipgnosis, the new ETF platform from Cathie Woods Ark Invest for UK investors, a new rare earth equities tracker, and the potential for a rebound in the listed private equity funds space. Plus, a think tank takes aim at ISAs. Hipgnosis

The gold price has been perking up in recent weeks – is now the time to be looking at the wide array of gold-based funds, especially in this era of monetary inflation powered by big government? This month David also looks at whether the private equity market is improving, plus he shines the spotlight again

This month we track down the listed investment funds which are still trading near their 52-week discount peaks and take a closer look at the worst offender in this category – the Digital 9 Infrastructure trust which is on the receiving end of yet more bad news. Not all big discount funds are worth the