In this month’s focus on funds, we take a quick look at asset class returns in 2023 courtesy of some wonderful heatmaps, we eavesdrop on a recent bank event at the state of UK PLC, and we examine an under-owned asset class that could be the verge of big things – local currency emerging markets

2023 was the year of AI and we end the year with a deep dive into the handful of AI-specific exchange-traded funds or ETFs listed on the London exchange. They all provide real diversification benefits but have lagged big well-known individual stocks such as Nvidia and Microsoft. We also have a deep dive into a

Investment trusts have rallied in recent days as investors bet on falling interest rates in the coming 18 months, pushing many funds off their 52-week discount highs. That’s left some investors worried they might have missed the big opportunities in funds land but there’s still plenty of very cheap – sometimes for a reason –

Given the surge in bond yields over the last few weeks, the monthly funds’ article focuses on the opportunities within the bond ETF space, looking first at the universe of cheap UK sterling bond ETFs and then at a wild shot idea, a US Treasury bond ETF that has been an utter dog in recent

There’s something of an income theme to this month’s funds focus. First up is a specialist lending fund whose shares have fallen sharply in value yet the fund is still churning out a reliable 8% plus yield. Next up we investigate the ups and downs of the music royalty funds – very much a yield

This months’ focus on funds explains why a peak in short-term government bond yields might presage a sudden turnaround in sentiment towards the listed infrastructure fund space. We also look at a stockmarket listed venture capital fund that is full of AI early-stage businesses but is valued at well below its book value by a

This month our funds expert outlines an alternative strategy for those investors looking for growth in global emerging markets – why focus on the big names of the EM space such as China and India, when you can invest in the next 1 billion potential consumers from 10 developing countries around the world? Back in

This month we have three main ideas for fund investors. The first is a closer look at the UKs’ premier, tier 1 listed venture capital firm which sits on a huge discount. A substantial discount does make sense, but the current level is way out of kilter for what is a business with a world-class

This month we have another gaggle of fund ideas, starting with a deep dive into gold index trackers – if you want a safe haven asset in volatile markets which are the best ETCs. Talking of deep dives we also identify a deeply discounted way of playing the digital infrastructure space. And last but by

If you are brave enough to be a growth investor – a tough vocation in the current climate – then I think at some stage you need to have some exposure to the world of private businesses, preferably fast-growing ones which might turn into tomorrow’s tech leviathans. The best way to get this exposure is