On 22 January, as Shares was preparing to go to print, the board of Herald Investment Trust (HRI) announced all of the resolutions put forward by activist investor Saba Capital had been defeated.The meeting was a first test of whether shareholders would stand by the boards of the trusts called out by US activist hedge fund Saba for underperforming. Votes against the resolutions totalled more than

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Marketing material.A lot has been said about the concentration in the US markets, but investors in European markets have also been focused on a handful of companies. These 'Granolas' may be more diversified than the technology-focused Magnificent Seven ? and not as expensive ? but the focus on them suggests investors remain nervous about branching out. However, there

For years now, European equities have struggled to keep pace with their US counterparts, but the historically low valuations on the ?old continent? mean we could be at an inflection point with investors beginning to take notice at long last.European equities have attracted increased attention from investors in recent weeks as the US market has charged ever higher, leaving the valuations of global

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREEurope's semiconductor industry: can it compete?Countries across the world are competing to build domestic semiconductor prowess. With its Chips Act, Europe is no exception, says Stefan Gries, manager of the BlackRock Greater European fund. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREUnlocking Structural Growth Opportunities in EuropeIt has been a good period for European equity markets, despite ongoing volatility. Stefan Gries, manager of the BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust, discusses the region's prospects for the remainder of 2023. Against expectations, European stock markets have outpaced their international peers since the start of

Conventional wisdom says the US is the only place to find world-beating companies while Europe has lots of 'interesting' niche businesses like specialist engineering and luxury goods companies.The truth is Europe has dozens of companies which are at least on a par with if not well ahead of their US counterparts, and investment trust BlackRock Greater Europe (BRGE) owns many of them.The trust's top

During volatile market conditions and high inflation, investors are looking for ways to protect their income. Investment trusts have an income advantage which is particularly important for seekers of rising payouts.This is because they are able to hold back up to 15% of the income they receive from their investments in their revenue reserves. They can use these reserves to boost dividends during l

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREThe European economy may be weakening, says Stefan Gries, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc, but great European companies can thrive in all conditions. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.The European e

The performance of the top Europe (ex-UK) funds is proof that the European equity market offers a multitude of opportunities for active investors to acquire overlooked and undervalued growth companies.The BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust (BRGE) is a £676 million fund with two co-managers. Stefan Gries covers developed European markets (90% of the portfolio); and Sam Vecht covers emerging

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREMacroeconomic factors do not normally play a significant role for stock pickers. However, says Stefan Gries, Co-Portfolio Manager on the BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc, the European Green Deal could be an exception, creating real opportunities across European markets.Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREIn Europe, the pandemic has paved the way for a brave new era of co-operation, says Stefan Gries, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.Europe has weathered a number of

There are some great stocks across the Atlantic but you pay an increasingly high price for them. In this article we will explain why investors on the hunt for growth could look closer to home, casting their gaze across the Channel to Europe.LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERRORUK retail investors seeking 'quality growth' stocks outside these shores have been avid buyers of US stocks for several years, and even

Dutch firm ASML may not be a familiar name to most investors, yet it probably should be. The monopoly microchip business is exposed to the most resilient parts of massive semiconductor industry capital investment.It's the only company in the world capable of manufacturing the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) tools needed for printing bleeding edge, complex semiconductor chips, according to investment ban

Strong historical performance data doesn't guarantee a fund will continue to do well in the future, so investors shouldn't buy an investment trust solely based on how it has done in the past expecting similar returns in the future.However, past performance, particularly over the long term, is still worth considering as it provides evidence of how well a trust has done in a variety of market condit

Risks to growth across Europe appear skewed to the downside given the impact of global trade-war rhetoric on sectors including autos and industrial chemicals.However, investors shouldn't dismiss a select band of niche growth companies making profitable progress under their own steam, yet which just happen to be Europe-based.Within the investment trusts sector, professionally-managed exposure to th

SPONSORED CONTENTGiants in nichesIs it possible to find certainty in an uncertain world? Perhaps not, but when companies have few competitors and a premium product, it does make them an attractive investment proposition, says co-portfolio manager Stefan GriesCapital at risk: All financial investments involve an element of risk. Therefore, the value of your investment and any income from it will va

As Shares goes to press, the EU referendum verdict is hours away. The outcome, whatever your voting persuasion, will shape the UK's economic destiny for decades to come.While European economies will feel an impact, whether the UK votes to leave or remain, those investors who are especially nervous about prospects for the UK economy could look to diversify portfolios by gaining exposure to other ge

An eight-year period of depressed markets would crush many a money manager's spirits, but not those of Sam Vecht. He is a co-manager at the BlackRock Emerging Europe (BEEP) investment trust and political unrest in Turkey and the ongoing tension in the Ukraine do nothing to dampen his enthusiasm. In fact, they help inform it as he readily cites Nathan Mayer Rothschild, the 1st Baron Rothschild, one