On 1 August the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee made a 5-4 decision to kickstart its rate-cutting cycle. A 25 basis point reduction in the base rate to 5% marking The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street's first cut since March 2020.This means cash savings rates are heading in one direction, down. And the lower-than-expected jump in UK inflation reported on 14 August only boosted market exp

The end of the tax year is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to maximise your £20,000 ISA allowance for the year.In this article we have identified six names from a list of some of the most consistent funds and fund managers in the UK which could be a good fit for your tax wrapper. While we have aimed for a balance across different investment styles and asset classes this is not intend

We would hesitate to call it a wave of consolidation - maybe a ripple would be more appropriate - but this year has seen a number of mergers among investment trusts.There is a long tail of sub-scale funds and trusts in the UK all desperate to attract more investors, but with the average discount to net asset value hitting 18% at the end of October, according to research from Winterflood Securities

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

The second quarter Link UK Dividend Monitor has revealed the high concentration risk facing UK income investors.Three quarters of the dividend growth in the second quarter came from the mining, oil and bank sectors.Looking forward mining dividends, which have been the most significant driver of dividend growth during the last two years, may well have peaked.UK dividends have also benefited from s

'Form is temporary, class is permanent' runs the old adage often used to describe sportsmen and sportswomen, though the maxim can also be applied in the investment industry, where you'll find a cohort of collectives that consistently do the business for their holders.Funds that routinely outperform over economic and stock market cycles must be pursuing a winning process that should pique the inter

City of London Investment Trust (CTY) has been a popular choice for investors over the years, but a period of underperformance versus the UK Equity Income investment trust sector average on a three and five-year basis is a worry.Typically investing in FTSE 100 companies, City of London has been a hit with certain types of investors, particularly those approaching retirement or already in it. The

It's been a tough year for people who rely on their investments for income thanks to widespread dividend cuts. Income fund managers have now rejigged their portfolios to names which they believe will be dependable source of dividends or bond coupons going forward.Their changes make for interesting reading, particularly for anyone who prefers individual stocks to investment funds as it might throw

David Smith, fund manager of Henderson High Income Trust (HHI), argues the lockdown losers that dragged on performance in the half to June will emerge from the Covid-19 crisis in 'a strong position relative to their competition'.And despite having been through a period of dividend suspensions, deferrals and cuts, Henderson High Income forecasts an increase in the 2020 total dividend, having built

All market corrections are different and have different causes, and the one currently being experienced has been notable for both its scale and speed, and for the fact it is being driven by a health emergency rather than a financial one.The simple fact is many investors will have been caught off guard by the events of the past month.In this article we will provide some ideas about how to get throu

Little is more satisfying in investing than receiving a dividend payment from one of your holdings and investment trusts have an excellent track record of delivering a regular stream of income.Some trusts offer very attractive yields too. According to industry body the Association of Investment Companies, the average for all trusts is 3.2% but there are a significant number of trusts which offer d

Risk-averse investors unnerved by the return of volatility, not to mention slowing global economic growth and European political uncertainties, might view share price weakness at the Henderson High Income Trust (HHI) as a compelling entry point.We believe the outlook for income from this highly diversified portfolio is robust. Moreover, the historic dividend yield of 5.8% is attractive and we are

Banks were put through the ringer in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008. Not only did the main players' share prices collapse, a seemingly constant flurry of alleged rate fixing and misselling of products began. Bank bashing became a national pastime.Almost a decade on, there are signs that this once dominant sector of the FTSE 100 is back with a vengeance. Is it time to invest i

With the number of retirees set to grow by an estimated 50% over the next 20 years, there is a pressing need for income to fund those who fall into this demographic.Looking at where cash and bonds are at the moment, traditional sources aren't going to fund it, but perhaps Henderson High Income Trust (HHI) could provide one part of the solution.The investment trust, which yields in the region of 4.

Housebuilder Berkeley (BKG) says its pre-tax profit for the year to 30 April will be at the top end of market forecasts. It says the London and South East property market is returning to normal. In contrast, it reports a 16% decline in reservations year-on-year between August 2016 and February 2017. Berkeley's share price jumps 4.4% to £30.92.Stockbroker Panmure Gordon (PMR:AIM) has received a 10

With anticipation rife that UK interest rates are set to awake from their five-and-a-half year lull, investors need to be very select when making income-yielding portfolio picks.Rising interest rates should be taken as a positive overall since they hopefully indicate a return to more normal levels of economic growth and inflation, where investors in quality equities are properly rewarded.But, as t