Economics / Markets

A LEADING provider of benchmark indices and risk management analytics products has moved a step forward in its attempts to enhance the investable universe.

THE future is looking bright for utility shares amid rising sector indices and the predictable nature of their earnings helping to strengthen the appeal in the long term, according to ABN AMRO.

ALLCHURCHES Investment Management Services has altered the ethical mandate of its Amity fund to allow it to hold oil stocks for the first time.

SHEFFIELD Mutual is launching a new income bond into the UK retail marketplace.

NEW Star's Tim Steer believes his accounting background has helped his UK Alpha fund reach top decile on the fifth anniversary of its launch.

SOCIETE Générale Asset Management has boosted its UK investment team with the appointment of a new small and mid cap specialist from HSBC.

THE team behind the Henderson Strategic Bond fund believes UK GDP will remain fairly stable despite the slowdown in the US economy.

PHILIP Saunders, co-manager on the Investec Managed Growth fund, believes the recent interest rate rise has not benefited the UK equity market.

The FTSE 100 fell 1 point to 6202 today as stocks slipped into the red in afternoon trades as ITV and Icap topped the fallers on bid uncertainties.

The FTSE 100 is up 5.40 points, or 0.1%, to 6209.9 with Aviva and British Land leading the advance, while Rio Tinto Group is pacing falling shares.