Alternative Outlook

The FSA has issued a discussion paper on a European Union directive that aims to establish a framework for monitoring the risks of alternative investment.

The regulator’s 102-page document, Implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, sets out its provisional thinking on its approach to enforcing the directive in the UK.

The report said: “There is a great deal to be done. Early communication and timely consultation and planning are crucial for effective and proportionate implementation.”

The direct…

Karl Rogers, former investment broker and Senior Spot Trader at City commodities broker, Tullett Brown explains why gold could be a better investment alternative for your retirement than a traditional pension.

The word ‘pension’ never seems to be far from the headlines at the minute. Pensions were obviously the cause of the recent industrial action at the end of 2011, whilst pensions were also at the heart of George Osborne’s autumn statement last year as the news that the rise in the state pension age to 67 was to be brought forwa…

The UK’s first officially designated ‘marine energy park’ for the development of wave and tide-powered renewable energy will be established in the South West of England, the Government has announced.

The South West Marine Energy Park, which will stretch from Bristol through Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly, will speed up the progress of marine power development by combining the resources of national and local government; Local Enterprise Partnerships; universities, and industry, the Government said.

The park was commissi…

Fine wine investment specialist,  (TWIF) predicts that the main wine index (the Liv-ex 100) will finish 2012 10% above its 2011 year-end level.

TWIF has published its first ever ‘fan chart’ showing the probability of various different wine market returns over the next 12 months, in the same format used by the Bank of England to forecast inflation.

The prediction comes on the back of previous markets (1998 and 2008) which saw the market hit a low point in December and recover sharply the following year.

With graphical analysis also…

Savill’s Farms and Estates experts are determined that the growth of farmland prices in 2012 will make UK farmland the most attractive asset for investors.

They believe that the price growth will amount to 36% in the next 5 years, of which 5% will account for 2012 alone.

The forecast seems to be very realistic given the fact that UK farmland prices have increased by as much as 138% in the past 5 years.

Commenting on the future of the farmland in UK, Alex Lawson of Savill’s Farms and Estates, said: “against a backdrop of economic uncer…

Gold equities have underperformed for more than a year despite the gold price hitting a series of new all-time highs. But things could be about to change.

Investors have preferred to invest in physical gold, despite the storage costs, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as they are perceived to be less risky than mining companies.

Paul Hissey, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, thinks miners need to do a number of things to entice investors away from gold ETFs, including reducing perceived operational risk; deliver to, and manage market e…

Described as a “fitting complement” to “The Art of France” sale during Old Masters Week, Christie’s has decided to sell selected cases of “benchmark” French estates in Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Champagne.

In total, 158 lots of fine wine will be offered at the auction on 25 January at the Rockefeller Centre.

Bordeaux lots include cases of Pétrus 1970-2005, with the 1982 valued at US$42,000-US$65,000; 1982 Lafite (one case at US$35,000-US$45,000) and Latour (6 magnums for US$20,000-US$30,000) and Château d’Yquem f…

You can choose to invest directly into companies or projects which meet ethical criteria, or look at ethical funds which can be growth or income generated.

The number of ethical and green retail funds has risen considerably in recent years, according to Mark Robertson, head of communications at the Ethical Investment Research Service.

There are now almost 100 green and ethical funds available to UK investors – a decade ago there were just a couple of dozen.

Mr Robertson said these include;

* Green & ethical funds

Also known…

Gold is set to power to a new record above $2,000 (£1,300) in the next year or so, but the fresh peak will come as it nears the end of a decade-long bull run, experts say.

As the global economic backdrop improves and investment in the “safe haven” metal wanes – “probably some time next year” – the price will retreat, according to respected metals consultancy GFMS.

Worries over nations’ debt problems and currency devaluation have helped gold rise more than 600pc over the past 10 years, passing $1,920 an ounce in September.

Gold…

Brooks Macdonald Funds announced that its Channel Islands-listed UK Agricultural Land Fund has purchased its fourth farm for just over £2m, a discount of 7% to the market value.

The farm, which is located in Lincolnshire, is close to one of the Fund’s existing holdings and offers approximately 300 acres of highly productive grade 2 and grade 3 arable land.

The Fund has seen increased interest from investors looking to invest in assets which offer long-term security. The performance of land has been less volatile than other investments,…