OEIC

What the future holds for offshore products once the RDR is in place

James Budden of Baillie Gifford says the RDR may see closed-ended funds in guided architecture and on fund recommendation lists alongside open-ended funds.

CitiFirst, the retail structured product division of Citigroup, is launching its first open-ended fund aimed at the UK IFA market - an autocallable structured product based on the FTSE 100.

Merchant Investors (MI) has partnered with Royal London 360° to offer its first offshore bond.

Whitechurch Securities has bought its first ETF, giving it a 10% exposure to natural gas prices in its higher risk Energy & Global Shift portfolio.

Wealth manager Brooks Macdonald Group is acquiring Canterbury-based Lawrence House Fund Managers Limited in its first acquisition since listing on Aim in 2005.

A professional association has been formed for IFAs, financial planners and wealth managers that have established their own OEICs.

Zurich has launched software enabling advisers to assess the comparative returns from UK investment bonds and unit trusts.

Innovative investment funds, including hedge products, could soon flood the market after the FSA implemented guidelines designed to help UCITS scheme operators promote their products freely into Europe.

Old Mutual is planning to convert all its unit trusts to OEICs and to merge several of its investment vehicles it was announced today.