Specialist

STANDARD Life Investments' Select Property fund has increased its direct exposure to the Asia Pacific region.

SCOTTISH Equitable has suspended withdrawals on its £2bn property fund, denying 129,000 investors access to their money for up to a year.

TREVOR Greetham, manager of the Fidelity Multi-Asset Strategic fund, has identified mining stocks as the top performers in world stock markets over 2007, while recognizing that banks shouldered the greatest losses.

INVESTING in Africa, commodities, environmental markets and for absolute returns are the four highly topical subjects being addressed by a quartet of investment experts at an upcoming Meet the Managers conference.

Investor returns

GUINNESS Asset Management has launched the Guinness Alternative Energy fund, replicating the group's existing US vehicle.

CLOSE Investments has scrapped its Agricultural Commodities Trust just days before it was due to go live.

Close Investments has scrapped its Agricultural Commodities Trust just days before it was due to go live.

DESPITE a fall in the valuation of the New Star Property trust of 17.8pc since July, Roger Dossett, chief executive of property fund management at New Star, believes the UK property crisis will be short lived.

MORE than three quarters of UK employees believe the most effective way to save for retirement is through a pension plan with property investment, or by investing in a mixture of property, pensions and other assets, according to a survey by Towers Perrin....