M&G

M&G Investments' top performing Global Dividend manager Stuart Rhodes has initiated a number of new holdings over the past couple of months as he seeks a new wave of income payers.

As the trend towards short-termism among fund pickers grows, Simon Evan-Cook, manager on Premier's multi-asset funds, asks: should some investors be banned from buying active funds?

Over the past month losses have racked up across bond sectors after comments from the Federal Reserve signalling the end of quantitative easing spooked global markets.

WHAT'S HOT?

M&G's director of UK advisory has predicted it could take up to two years to properly gauge demand for restricted propositions among the adviser community.

Fund closures and mergers in the UK have soared to a record high in the past six months as groups cull smaller or underperforming funds amid pressure on margins.

PROTECTION

M&G has lost its number one spot at the top of the widely followed Pridham report, after sales at rivals BlackRock and Standard Life surpassed the Prudential-owned asset manager.

Darwin Investment Managers has launched a model portfolio service comprising three funds managed by multi-asset veteran David Jane.

Prudential has reported a 21% fall in sales of with-profit bonds for the first quarter of the year, which it has attributed to the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).