Prices and Markets

COVID-19-related falls in markets have weighed on BlackRock Throgmorton Trust (THRG), although it has held up well relative to both its peer group and its benchmark. Its manager sees this as a defining moment for investors – one that could set the stage for many years to come... Read more Identifying industry change, investing in tomorrow’s winners and shorting unsustainable business models are core parts of THRG manager Dan Whitestone’s investment process. He believes that the economic disruption associated with...

In this issue Performance - Shares in property companies took another turbulent turn during May as the covid-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc on property assets. Valuation moves - Results season is in full swing and saw many companies report net asset value moves. Corporate activity - There was a big equity raise, a high profile chief executive resignation and a new investment manager appointment in the month of May. Major news stories - Capital & Counties bought a 26%...

A collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or sell any of the companies mentioned... Read more Global (thoughts from AVI Global, Majedie, and Scottish Mortgage) Flexible investment (thoughts from Capital Gearing, Caledonia, and Livermore) UK (thoughts from BMO UK High Income,...

As part of our commitment to providing Investment Research, we have published our regular monthly update on the Global Economy & Listed Investment Companies. In this issue Performance – The ongoing impact of stimulus and the easing in lockdowns reinforced the rally over May. Cyclical sectors that had been battered, particularly energy, catapulted back from historic lows. Adoption of many of the ‘disruptive’ technologies Augmentum Fintech invests in, could speed-up as a result of the pandemic. Golden Prospect Precious Metals...

The logistics sector, in which Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income (ASLI) invests, would appear to be one of the few property sectors that could see occupier demand increase in the long term as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. With some form of a lockdown enforced in most European countries, there has been a spike in ecommerce orders. A whole new group of people have been introduced to online retailing, which is expected to speed up penetration rates across Europe...

India Capital Growth will hold an extraordinary general meeting on 12 June 2020, in Guernsey, where shareholders will be asked whether they want the fund to continue. The board undertakes a performance assessment every three years and a vote on the trust’s continued existence is put to shareholders only in the event that either of the following criteria are met: the company’s monthly average market capitalisation million over the past year is below £30m; orthe company’s published diluted NAV per ordinary share has underperformed the benchmark by more than a...

GCP Infrastructure will be 10 years old in a few weeks. Since 2012, it has paid a stable 7.6p per year dividend backed largely by UK public sector cashflows and achieved modest growth in net asset value (NAV). The yield premium that GCP delivers relative to UK government debt securities has increased significantly over the past decade.... Read more GCP’s board wants to ensure that the company’s next decade is as successful as the last. That has meant reassessing the...

India Capital Growth’s (IGC’s) board is asking investors to back a continuation vote scheduled for 12 June 2020 and it is important that shareholders make their vote count. COVID-19 has depressed valuations to levels not seen since the financial crisis. The managers see substantial upside when market confidence returns and are asking for more time to deliver that. The board believes shareholders should support the continuation of the company. This reflects their confidence in the measures taken to turn performance...

Recent market falls have left Henderson High Income Trust (HHI) trading on a 7.3% dividend yield. This is a significant premium to the yield on the UK market, which has been hit by a swathe of dividend cuts. The board are well aware of the reliance that many investors have on the income paid by the trust. Fortunately, HHI’s sources of revenue are diversified (as we explain on page 4) and it had revenue reserves of 8.3p per share at...