Investors urged to abandon ‘traditional' themes in 2015

Fund buyers and investors face a challenging 2015 as they weigh up how to diversify in the face of crowded trades and elevated valuations, market commentators have suggested.

Although the plummeting oil price has prompted economic forecasters to suggest growth could surprise on the upside in the coming months, investors have been warned a more complicated investment picture may leave them underwhelmed this year. Consultancy Mercer has highlighted the potential exhaustion of traditional investment themes as the number one priority for wealth managers to consider this year. Cara Williams, global head of Mercer’s wealth management business, said: “Rates are at, or near, historic lows, and the US is more than five years into a bull market in equities. Assume r...