Vanguard

THE BIG QUESTION

US passives giant Vanguard has cut prices on two of its core UK trackers, following the removal of stamp duty on funds.

Vanguard Asset Management has soft-closed two of its popular US equity funds to new investors.

Hundreds of multi-asset funds are failing to gain traction among investors despite a concerted push into the space by asset managers, Investment Week analysis shows.

Vanguard has moved to reduce prices on its emerging market and global bond trackers as price competition in the passive space heats up.

The most read story on Investment Week's website this week concerned outgoing fund manager Neil Woodford and how Invesco Perpetual is moving to protect investors in his funds.

Bill Gross' Pimco Total Return fund has lost its position as the largest mutual fund in the world after investors pulled over 13% of assets from the fund since the summer.

Bestinvest has awarded a three-star rating to competitor Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF after recommending a switch away from iShares' S&P offering.

BIG QUESTION

Vanguard managing director Thomas Rampulla and AXA IM UK head Irshaad Ahmad have joined the IMA board, boosting total numbers to 18.