Richard Saunders

Bonds funds continued to dominate new inflows in August and helped boost retail sales for the month to a record high, according to the IMA.

Assets under management within fund of funds have reached a record level of £46.5bn, according to the IMA.

Retail investors exited UK equities in favour of global and regional funds in January.

Net retail sales reached their highest level on record in 2009, up 45% on their previous best performance, according to the IMA.

Investors are less positive on the outlook for returns in 2010, with the numbers planning to invest falling by almost 50%, according to the IMA.

Investor confidence has not plummeted to the extent expected given the state of economic markets, according to the IMA's second bi-annual Great British Investor report.

The Investment Management Association (IMA) is calling on the FSA to investigate what it calls weaknesses with default arrangements in cash equity markets "as a matter of urgency".

Specialist funds were the most popular form of retail investment in 2006, as the dominance of property funds accounted for almost a quarter of the Oeic market.

Adair Turner has approached the Investment Management Association (IMA) to examine cost-effective ways in which National Insurance contributions might be pooled and put towards a pension.