Opinion

The announcement by the Conservatives they would put regulation of the banks back in the hands of Bank of England if they win the next election was greeted with general approval by most who commented.

I am not going to bore you with my applause for the FSA's recent RDR proposals - anything that moves us away from the current system is going to get my vote, especially if it forces investors to ditch their myopia on commission-based fees and ‘encourages'...

For an investment manager, rising equity markets are most welcome.

There have been two events within the multi-manager sector of the market occurring in the last two weeks - both quite different in nature - that are equally important and point a way forward for advisers.

Tim Bond, BarCap's head of asset allocation, is a fairly balanced chap and is paid to take a considered view of most things, balancing out competing forces at work in the global economy, teasing out how they will impact actual investment policy.

You all know I'm a cynic - you don't have to have read this column for long to know that. So it was with a slightly cynical look on my face I went along to a small debate about multi-asset investing hosted by Barings.

This is strange time of year for me. In July 2005, when most people in the UK were concerned with the threat of terrorism as a result of the bombings, I was in hospital.

There is much talk within the industry about the challenging markets and what a tough time we have all been having.

Oh how I laugh when I get emails from PRs suggesting that the residential property is bottoming out and Acme Fund Management is preparing "a recovery fund to take advantage of the very special opportunities".

One of my greatest disappointments with the nominee-based electronic share dealing systems operated by most brokers - especially the cheapo ones I use - is that you do not get the paper reports and accounts sent to you.