Specialist

PARENTS will increasingly need to factor in financial assistance for their dependents in their fiscal planning, according to Heartwood Wealth Management.

THE VCT sector surpassed market expectations at the end of the last tax year, according to research from the AIC.

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) has leapt to the defence of hedge funds as the industry comes under fire following recent market movements.

Skandia Investment Group (SIG) has announced a unique plan to create a multi-manager vehice comprising of 10 alternative asset classes.

PROPERTY investors are set to tap the lucrative Indian market during the US-led credit crunch, with the market set to grow 700pc by 2015, according to Merrill Lynch.

STENHAM has launched its third UK focused property fund to be listed on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange.

THE gold price has topped $1,000 an ounce for the first time, underpinned by the weakness of the dollar and the threat of a US recession.

THE IMA has welcomed proposals for the creation of a European passport for retail open ended real estate funds (OEREFs).

ASSETS in fixed income ETFs will grow by over 200pc to surpass $200bn over the next three years, iShares has predicted, due to capital market banks trading the products more widely.

MOST advisers believe recent moves by some providers to suspend withdrawals from property funds were sensible measures that safeguarded the interests of investors, research suggests.