Platforms

Hargreaves Lansdown has posted a 16% jump in adjusted pre-tax profits for the six months to end 2009, to £43.1m.

Vanguard has reached £500m in assets under management since launching in the UK just seven months ago.

Artemis Strategic Assets, Cazenove Absolute UK Dynamic and Jupiter Absolute Return made the top ten bestseller list through Hargreaves Lansdown's direct to consumer Vantage platform for the whole of 2009.

Jupiter has the most funds on Cofunds' eagerly awaited OBSR Researched Funds Panel with 10 vehicles making the grade.

The Cautious Managed sector is top of the Cofunds chart for the second consecutive month - accounting for three of the top five best selling funds in October.

Standard Life has received broad agreements with all its top 12 fund partners over new business terms as the platform industry accelerates its re-negotiations with asset managers.

Absolute Return funds appear to have come of age with the sector among the best sellers via Hargreaves Lansdown's direct to investors fund supermarket Vantage in August.

Investors are continuing to look East for current equity opportunities, with a number of Asia-focused funds among the top sellers on Fidelity FundsNetwork in July.

Investment Week, in association with Scottish Widows, asked financial advisers how they feel about investment outsourcing and found out from providers what they feel is necessary for a strong outsourcing relationship