Specialist

Tough it out

Advantages: best trust in what can be the best sector in the market
Disadvantages: volatility

...was staying put in the Aberdeen Technology fund - one of the largest in its sector - because the worst was over. But New York changed that and I think there is more share volatility just over the horizon for tech companies. But I am still staying put. Why? Because in the long term technology is still one of the most exciting plays around. Technology is as vital to companies as light and heating. Also: 1) Bush has pledged to pump in billions of ...
...soar in wartime. 3) Aberdeen is big enough to ride the storm and pump in cash when the market bottoms and companies are again good value. 4)Trust funds should be seen as long term plays, up to five years. Pull out now and you could miss the best boom months for share values. 5)Tech will be the first sector to recover in a recession as companies expand capacity. I am more a historian than an economist and it is impossible to be certain of the ...

castlebinn 16.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Aberdeen Technology Unit Trust

Is the manager earning his money

Advantages: Still cheap when looking at historical value
Disadvantages: Went down like a lead baloon with all tech stocks

I started buying this fund early 2002 when I believed tech stocks had been beaten down more than they deserved. The fund had fallen big time in value and everyone was talking about how techs were finnished and how they would never come back again. Being the contrarian that I am this was a big flashing buy signal for me. I am a great believer in technolgy firing the imagination of the public, and I actualy think the bubble we saw in 1999 was only ...
...future years. While most people laugh at the idea of "new economy" now, I think they had it spot on. It got inflated way to quickly though and hence the markets overeacted as always and punnished all things tech. Think about it we becoming more and more reliant on the internet, most businuess will be conducted on it in years to come. When all households are fully hooked up to the internet (this is becoming reality very quickly) then the true boom ...

mkpdavies 03.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Jupiter Global Technology Fund

40% a Year Since Launch

Advantages: Consistent 40% pa growth, low volatility
Disadvantages: Initial charges but these can be reduced through an execution-only broker.

This has to be one of the smoothest performing trusts I've seen for a long time. It has grown at a rate of 40% per annum since launch. I don't mean an average of 40%, I literally mean that in August each year the price was 40% higher than the previous year. With the exception of a couple of medium sized corrections (the Asian market crash in 1998 and the technology correction early this year), the growth has been exceedingly consistent. It even recovered ...
...for most other funds. A thousand pounds invested in August 1997 would now be worth £3000, and the thousand that I invested in January 2000 is already worth well over £1300. I'm so pleased with what I see that I am now suggesting that my wife should invest here entire ISA allowance in this fund in the next couple of weeks. If, like me, you are looking for an investment that will grow at a steady but pleasing rate, year-on-year, rather than a flash-in-the-pan ...

petehall 15.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Jupiter Financial Opportunities Fund

Fund Manager on the Move?

Advantages: Superb historic performance.
Disadvantages: Potential change of manager. Volatile sector.

...repercussions on performance. The Henderson Global Technology fund has enjoyed amazing success over an extended period, and much of this has to be down to the fund manager. The fund has achieved 530% growth in the last five years alone, without undue volatility (until this year). The fund stands at one-and-a-quarter billion pounds, which is smaller than Aberdeen Technology, which could explain why they've out-performed Aberdeen over that period. ...
...if you haven't invested in this fund yet but were thinking of doing, it may be worth waiting a while to see what happens. If you have already invested in it then it could be worth doing some research. Seek opinions from those in the know - Hargreaves Lansdown is often a good place to start, they always get their facts straight before leaping in with a recommendation. (see my review of HL for their web site address). I wouldn't be in any rush to sell ...

petehall 28.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Henderson Global Technology Fund

A Nice Little Earner

Advantages: ethical, profitable
Disadvantages: subject to market forces, like most investments

The Framlington investment funds are probably the most profitable area in which I have ever put my faith and money. The initial account charges are low, amounting to no more than 1%, in the areas in which I have invested. However, more importantly they have collectively out-performed any other unit trust or PEP over the last 10 years, with the Income fund in particular gaininh 230% in the last 12 months. The Health fund is ethically run and does ...

nickhurst 11.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Framlington Health Fund