Lindsell Train’s unusual take on key man risk

Some investors love the return potential of frontier markets, while others consider them volatile and expensive.

What ails Japan?

Within the emerging markets space, fears of a hard landing and shadow banking combined with poor performance have led many investors to avoid China.

As the oil price falls below $80 per barrel and other commodity markets also struggle with limited supply, investors are steering clear of resources funds, but some managers see these conditions as an investment opportunity.

Nigel Beidas, co-manager of the Marlborough Extra Income fund, takes a closer look at headwinds and tailwinds for UK companies.

The most recent global economic data suggests a general softening in growth activity - led particularly by Europe.

The gloss has come off the emerging markets' story in the past year or so. Performance has disappointed, and of the BRIC countries, only India appears to be a story investors want to talk about positively.

Now in their sixth year, Investment Week's Sustainable Investment Awards 2014, held at Le Méridien Piccadilly, London on 26 November, are aimed at fund managers and organisations at the forefront of sustainability investing.

Charles Stanley has reported a £3.9m pre-tax loss for the six months to 30 September, driven by costs arising from the ongoing "major upgrade" of its systems and processes.