Argyle News : Phil's Blog (December 2007 Archive)

Sometimes topical issues can arise which demand an immediate and un-scheduled response. Phil's blog will discuss these issues in an open and down-to-earth manner.

21/12/07

Opinions, everybody's got one

Sue said in her last article, it is all about opinions in the end and everyone has one - we need to find and listen to the right ones!! However at this time of year everyone seems to have an opinion about what is going to happen to the markets in the following year.  What will be the best fund, which fund won't perform; what sector to avoid. At the end of the day as this chart shows [click here to view this chart in new browser window] there will be some winners and some losers and year on year the best performing area one year, is unlikely to be the best the next year.

This is especially true given the market conditions we are experiencing which, will undoubtedly continue into the New Year. Therefore any opinions given at the moment by commentators are very much a finger in the air "educated guess", as nobody knows what is going to happen. What we can say is, that through our research process we will continue to select what we consider to be the most suitable funds from around the world for our clients. We will do this within a balanced portfolio, in accordance with their risk profile and financial objectives.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

11/12/07

www.unbiased.co.uk

We have recently joined IFAP to promote our services on their website www.unbiased.co.uk.

The website is a free to search online database of financial advisers around the country. Last year more than 600,000 consumers used it to choose an adviser. All advisers listed on the site must be authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and are obliged to offer ''suitable advice''. The site also contains a number if useful guides which covers topics including general financial advice, investments, pensions, mortgages and tax.

IFAP is frequently mentioned in the national press, television, radio and in online articles and hundreds of websites now link to the unbiased website - including Yahoo, Guardian and AOL.

We believe access to advice is important and that people should seek help when planning their financial futures - so sites like this are very useful in getting our message over to people as we are able to promote our website to a wider and more targeted audience.

For more information, please visit the website and key in either of our postcodes (PR9 0QE or HP23 5ED) to see our details.

10/12/07

Baillie Gifford

We had a fascinating chat with Ben Lloyd from Baillie Gifford last week about China and its development. Ben is a very engaging individual who clearly enjoys and believes in what he does. Sometimes when you meet a fund manager you get the feeling that he would rather be somewhere else, so it was very refreshing to see and hear such enthusiasm. Many of our clients have access to China through the Baillie Gifford Pacific Fund and given all the changes going on in the region, it is exciting times. The amount of investment and development going on in China is scary and due to the undemocratic way the country is run, this development is happening immediately. ie if they want to knock a factory down and rebuild it 100 miles outside the city it just happens - there is no debate! What is interesting is the belief that China can take on the best known companies in the world. For example did you know that the third biggest selling trainer behind Nike and Adidas is a Chinese company called Li Ning?