Fixed Income

Skandia UK Fixed Interest Blend has invested £12m in the Invesco Perpetual Corporate Bond fund run by Paul Causer and Paul Read.

UK fixed interest funds continue to dominate the top spot on Skandia's fund platform, accounting for over a quarter of all sales during January.

Continued UK government borrowing and new gilt issuance presents bond investors with short and medium term opportunities, according to Old Mutual Asset Management's Richard Stevens.

The Baring Directional Global Bond trust is taking advantage of its ability to short by betting on the decline of government bonds.

Cash is no longer king, with investors now focussed on returns rather than the risk of a banking collapse, according to Ian Williams, manager of City Financial's Strategic Gilt fund.

AXA Investment Managers has restructured its fixed income division, headed up by Theo Zemek, and confirmed the appointment of Chris Iggo - formerly a senior member of the investment strategy team - as CIO of fixed income.

Global bonds can support portfolio diversification while benefiting from varying global economic conditions, according to Michael Hasenstab, senior vice president and portfolio manager, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group.

The new IMA Strategic Bond sector is a positive step forward, but investors need be careful to differentiate between the varying mandates of listed funds, according to F&C's Fatima Luis.

Julius Baer has introduced its established Local Emerging Bond fund to UK investors.

Corporate bonds offer better value than government bonds as normal conditions return to the corporate debt market and spreads fall further, Jewson Associates has asserted.