Specialist

Having seen significant yield contraction since the summer of 2009, yields on prime properties now appear to be stabilising.

Goldman Sachs was today accused of fraud by a US financial watchdog over the make-up and marketing of a debt product tied to sub-prime mortgages.

The manager of the WAY Charteris Gold Portfolio fund is to conduct a series of seminars around the UK for advisers.

The Treasury is considering relaxing the rules which govern VCT investment.

Real estate investment trusts (Reits) will be allowed to include stock dividends as part of their 90% income distribution requirements, Chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed.

Interactive Financial Adviser

Ed Stuart-Brown, head of protection sales at Friends Provident, recommends advisers find alternative products to sell in these difficult market conditions

Advisers lacking specialist investment expertise should be "discouraged" from recommending funds of hedge funds and other alternative investments, despite the FSA unblocking access for retail clients.

Patrick Reeve, managing partner of Albion Ventures, says VCTs have become the default tax planning investment for higher earners.

ETFs tracking commodities and hedge fund indices are the best placed to receive new inflows this year, a survey by db x-trackers reveals.