Investors look for income with protection from risk

Retail structured products can easily be created to match a wide variety of financial needs, and this market should grow as distributors and investors overcome the shock inflicted upon them by turbulent equity markets

The changes we have seen in the structured products market reflect the impact the falling stockmarkets have had on investors' perceptions of structured products. Three years ago investors and IFAs were demanding high income products. Along with the high income headline rates, came the downside of the risk to capital resulting in disappointing returns for some maturing products. In a recent survey we conducted, the majority of IFAs interviewed reported that most clients requested capital protection as a priority. However, it was felt that confidence levels are improving and an increasing n...