Platforms

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has asked Hargreaves Lansdown to share details of its negotiations with fund groups over clean share class pricing.

Some of the UK's largest fund houses are considering launching retail share classes with a 0% AMC rather than provide platforms with ‘super clean' alternatives.

Architas has introduced a new charging option for its range of risk-rated passive investment funds.

Platform giant Cofunds is set to report a significant drop in net retail sales of more than £1bn for 2012, compared to the previous year.

Total platform industry costs stood £50m higher than revenues in 2011 despite assets under administration of nearly £250bn, according to Altus.

Cofunds has reported an annual profit fall of 15% for 2012, despite increasing turnover and assets under administration (AUA).

Holly Mackay of Platforum expects to see the greatest growth in the workplace savings market, with platforms becoming ubiquitous over time.

Advisory firms who have achieved excellence in running a platform-enabled business or practice are being invited to submit entries for the prestigious annual Aberdeen UK Platform Awards.

Verona Smith, marketing director of Cofunds, is to join The Platforum after exiting the fund supermarket in the wake of its takeover by Legal & General.

Hargreaves Lansdown is asking smaller fund groups to offer their products exclusively through the discount broker, as part of a round of fresh price negotiations.