Firms serving basic needs always in fashion

Charles Stanley investment manager Kate Spurling highlights strong companies meeting ‘basic human needs'

When I first started out as a private client stockbroker 17 years ago, I was fortunate to work for an individual who had worked his way up through the industry and who had developed his own investment ethos along the way. The main thing I remember is we always tried to ensure the core direct equity element of a portfolio contained the ‘basic human needs’ of food, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Over time, I have expanded that list and now believe retailing, banking, oil, mining and telecoms should also feature on the list. Additional sectors add further welcome diversification and I...