Specialist

First State has strengthened its Infrastructure Investment team with the appointment of Stephen O'Shea as an associate director and Hamish Lea-Wilson as an executive.

Octopus Investments has confirmed that it will takeover management of all three AIM VCTs managed by Close Investments - representing around £65m of total assets - as of 1 August.

Many IFAs use structured products as a matter of course when constructing client portfolios.

EEA says its Life Settlements fund has broken through £100m, despite concerns raised about regulation of traded life policies (TLPs) in the US where it invests.

JPMorgan has launched Highbridge Statistical Market Neutral Sterling fund, which will compete directly against BlackRock's hugely successful Absolute Alpha vehicle.

Conal Gregory, Master of Wine, outlines how to invest in vintage bottles.

Cherry Reynard explains that as investors seek diversification in tough markets, investment trusts may well see a larger slice of the pie

Annelien Bruins, director of Bruins Private Collections Consultancy (which provides advice to private buyers on the management of their art collections), explains the issues investors must consider when adding art to their portfolios.

Property in Central Europe is forecast to outperform Western Europe over the next five years but, on a risk adjusted basis, Germany offers better prospects, according to research carried out by SWIP.

Octopus Investments has launched a new Portfolio Service which aims to generate an average total return in excess of 10pc per annum.