A central bank interest rate cutting cycle is well underway, the Federal Reserve having slashed US rates by 50 basis points and further cuts expected from the Bank of England following August's 25 basis point reduction. Falling rates mean lower rates on cash and bonds, so this seems like a sensible time for investors searching for long-term income and capital growth to review their portfolios.Help

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE 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.Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America[1]. It comprises 60% of the MSCI Latin America index,[2] and has four of the region's five largest companies. It is the highest weighting in the Bl

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREBrazil versus Mexico: a tale of two monetary policiesWhile economists speculate over when the US interest rate cycle might turn, one region's central banks have already started to shift ? Latin America. Brazil, Chile and Peru have been among the first countries to lower rates, having started their tightening cycle far sooner than the rest of the world. What might it m

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREThe 'nearshoring' trend is picking up speed: Mexico is well-placed to benefit, says the team on the BlackRock Latin America Trust. 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 pandemic exposed the fragility of many supply chains for comp

Number of high yielding trusts up since February35 equities-focused trusts offer 4% yield or moreBut Stifel says watch out for automatic cutsWhilst UK inflation cooled more than expected last month, June's 7.9% reading remains far higher than the Bank of England's 2% target and prices are still going up, which means investors still need to protect portfolios from the 'cruellest tax' with dividends

After a fierce campaign with far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, former president Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva won the second round of elections on Sunday to become Brazil's leader for a third term.However, the narrowness of Lula's win - by 50.9% against Bolsonaro's 49.1% after a three-hour count - demonstrates how deep conservative sentiment now runs and how split Brazil has become since he was las

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREIt's been a good start to the year for Latin American markets as commodity prices have risen.¹ However, Sam Vecht, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc, says the region may just be getting started. 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 ba

On 5 September, asset manager Abrdn (ABDN) announced that veteran and very successful fund manager Harry Nimmo will retire from the firm and the industry at the end of 2022 after the best part of four decades with the company.The news will have certainly set the nerves of investors in Abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust (AUSC) and Abrdn UK Smaller Companies (B7FBH94) jangling, given that Nimmo

Rising interest rates since the turn of the year, runaway inflation and Russia's shocking invasion of Ukraine have shaken the investment kaleidoscope in 2022 and forced many investors to reposition portfolios for an increasingly uncertain world.This is reflected in developments in the investment trusts universe, which has thrown up some obvious and more surprising winners in the opening months of

For novice investors, selecting the right fund or investment trust from the thousands available to suit your target returns and risk tolerance is not easy.To help you decide industry trade bodies the Investment Association (IA) and the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) provide a menu to choose from by separating collectives into different sectors.This enables you to narrow down choices and

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURELatin American markets should be a key beneficiary of the global economic recovery, says Ed Kuczma, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc, even if there are still some reasons for caution. 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 o

In 2021, as we move into the recovery phase of the coronavirus crisis, emerging markets are rebounding sharply. In this article we explore why you should consider investing in this space and the case for looking at some of the less well-explored options alongside the dominant Chinese market.2020 proved a very up and down year for emerging markets (EM), which plunged to record lows in March amid th

A revival in shares of BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust (BRLA) could mark the start of an eventual recovery to the 760p levels seen in late 2010.Though the trust has disappointed with negative ten-year annualised share price and net asset value (NAV) returns, according to Morningstar, a 7.6% NAV discount and a 4.3% yield on the quarterly dividend paying trust is a great way to gain exposu

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREIt's been a challenging period for Latin America, but investors may be surprised by the strength of the economic recovery, says Ed Kuczma, Co-Manager of the BlackRock Latin American 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 i

New managers at BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust (BRLA) are rethinking strategy to widen geographic reach and be less conservative on stock selection.Will Landers left the trust after 13 years in December having beaten its MSCI Latin American benchmark in net asset terms in eight of the past 10 years.New managers Sam Vecht and Ed Kuczma want to tone down the trust's dominant exposure to

Emerging markets haven't been good to investors in 2018. Their meltdown has reflected a mounting trade war between the world's two biggest economies, America and China, higher US interest rates and a strengthening of the dollar. Compounding the situation have been the currency crises and economic problems that have befallen Turkey and Argentina.However, where there is a problem, there can be an op

SPONSORED CONTENT.Investment decisions are always a balance between company performance and the wider economic landscape, but never more so than in Latin America, argues portfolio manager Will Landers.Capital at risk: All financial investments involve an element of risk. Therefore, the value of your investment and any income from it will vary and your initial investment amount cannot be guaranteed

Latin America as a region is dominated by the economic powerhouse that is Brazil. Therefore funds focused on the region that are market cap weighted will tend to have a lot of stocks held on the Brazilian stock exchange, the Brasil Bolsa Balcão (B3).Brazil had a spectacular fall from grace in 2015 due to the US dollar strengthening against the Brazilian Real which dramatically reduced the B

When weighing up investment trusts to add to your portfolio, cost is a key consideration. The greater the charges associated with a fund, the better your investments must perform to deliver you a return.One of the biggest costs are the fees investment trusts payto fund managers for managing the portfolio; investment trusts may also pay a performance fee if the manager outperforms certain targets.F

UK shares are largely flat despite a swathe of corporate announcements on Monday. The FTSE 100 slips a barely noticeable 10 points lower to 6,570, although midcaps again suffer more harsh treatment from investors. The FTSE 250 index slumps more than 1090 points, or 0.6%, to 17,392.Theme park operator Merlin Entertainments (MERL) tumbles 4.6% to 403.8p after warning the high profile rollercoaster c