M&G

Veteran fund manager Graham French is to leave M&G, handing over his Global Basics fund to his co-manager. Should holders of the fund consider other options?

M&G Global Basics fund manager Graham French is to leave the group, Investment Week can reveal, as he retires from fund management after a 25-year career.

THE BIG QUESTION

Leading bond managers including Jim Leaviss at M&G are moving away from high yield debt on concerns over rising leverage in the US and high valuations.

M&G's retail funds under management are up 24% year on year to £64.5bn at 30 September, driven primarily by strong inflows from European clients, with UK flows turning positive again in Q3.

ON EMS

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Peter Fitzgerald, head of multi-asset retail funds at Aviva Investors, has named five hidden gem funds that add value to his portfolios, and which cannot otherwise be easily accessed by retail investors.

M&G's Tom Dobell has warned against what he sees as the "tiresome" rise in short-term trading, suggesting investors need to move away from "grazing" and hold stocks for longer.

M&G's Graham French has told investors last year was one of the toughest periods of his career as his fund underperformed amid a torrid time for commodities.