Trust underperforms benchmarkDividend increased for 42nd consecutive yearManager positive on outlookMerchants Trust (MRCH) served up a 42nd consecutive year of higher dividends, up 2.9% to 28.4p per share, but the portfolio fell 3.1% for the year, lagging the FTSE All-Share?s total return of 1.9%.Chairman Colin Clark described the performance as ?very disappointing? but stressed that the result ?c

One of the most popular investment trusts with AJ Bell?s ISA millionaires, City of London (CTY) is a favourite with investors seeking long-term income and capital growth and a gateway to large international companies.However, while the long-run performance record is strong, Curtis? cautious approach means the fund can underperform in some market conditions. On a 10-year share price total return ba

In this third part of our investor survey, we asked some of the UK?s leading fund managers which sectors or stocks they thought were the most promising for 2024.The responses were as varied as they were thought-provoking, with only a couple of managers singling out technology stocks.As before we would like to thank all those who took part for sharing their views, and we hope readers enjoy them. WH

There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the FTSE 3

Equity income trusts in demandCity of London most boughtScottish Mortgage, Finsbury Growth & Income divide opinionWith conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine creating uncertainty, and investors grappling with cost-of-living pressures as falling inflation is expected to be a drawn-out process, dependable income trusts have proved popular on the AJ Bell platform over the past month.At the same time

Value stocks have outperformed growth stocks by 12% since Pfizer (PFE:NYSE) announced the first effective Covid-19 vaccine on 9 November 2020. That's comparing the MSCI World Value index against the MSCI World Growth index.We have reason to believe the value investing style could soon deliver even bigger outperformance given the shift in the backdrop from cheap money to more normalised interest ra

Number of high yielding trusts up since February35 equities-focused trusts offer 4% yield or moreBut Stifel says watch out for automatic cutsWhilst UK inflation cooled more than expected last month, June's 7.9% reading remains far higher than the Bank of England's 2% target and prices are still going up, which means investors still need to protect portfolios from the 'cruellest tax' with dividends

- NAV total return of 7.6%- Performance ahead of benchmark FTSE All-Share index- Second in peer group over one, three and five yearsInvestment trust Merchants Trust (MRCH) reported a positive full year ending 31 January 2022 with an NAV total return of 7.6% ahead of the benchmark index FTSE All-Share index return of 5.2%.Shares in the trust were unmoved on the announcement of the numbers, falling

Retired civil servant Mark is a relatively late starter when it comes to managing his own investments, but he is making up for lost time - taking up the maximum ISA allowance of £20,000 apiece for himself and his wife each year.The 61-year-old already has a workplace pension to help fund the cost of living, but that didn't stop him wanting to start a personal investing journey after finishing wor

The idea behind value investing is to buy shares for less than they are worth in the hope they reach their so-called 'fair' value and generate a better than market return.This article explores popular yardsticks used to find value shares, explains how they are used and highlights the advantages and drawbacks.Before starting it is worth bearing in mind that none of the metrics discussed are perfect

With cash savings rates approaching 5% if you're prepared to lock your money away for a few years, investors are starting to ask if this is a better place for their savings than taking the risk of investing in the stock market.Over the past decade or so, income funds have been popular investments as they've offered more generous yields than you'd get on cash. Now the Bank of England's base rate ha

Merchants Trust (MRCH) 494pLoss to date: 6.9%Original entry point: Buy at 531p, 30 September 2021While the shares of Merchants Trust (MRCH) have slipped below our entry price from September 2021, the trust has continued to add to its long-term track record of market outperformance despite the trickier market conditions which have prevailed in 2022.WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE WE SAID TO BUY?The trust del

It is becoming increasingly likely that major economies around the globe will plunge into a full-blown recession this year, the UK included.Analysts and economists fear the global economy's growth momentum will grind to a halt as central banks continue to raise interest rates in a desperate attempt to combat high inflation.If the UK and other major economies do fall into recession, what can invest

Merchants Trust (MRCH) 580pGain to date: 9.3%Original entry point: Buy at 531p, 30 September 2021When we flagged the attractions of investment trust Merchants (MRCH) in September 2021 we noted it had a track record of outperforming the market and its latest annual results saw it come up trumps again.The numbers covering the 12 months to 31 January 2022 revealed a 35.7% net asset value total return

UK dividend champion Merchants Trust (MRCH) reported a total return nearly double that of its benchmark last year as it recorded its 40th successive year of dividend growth. With a little help from cash resources.The annual results, for 12 months to 31 January 2022, saw the trust's NAV (net asset value) total return jump 35.7%, comfortably ahead of its benchmark FTSE All-Share Index's 18.9%.The po

Given present geopolitical and economic uncertainties and the stock market declines seen year-to-date, the portfolio support provided by dividends remain important to investors.Thankfully this year, we have continued to witness a restoration of dividend payments by an array of companies following the hiatus seen in 2020 when firms suspended payouts to preserve cash at the onset of the pandemic.For

There are three principal reasons why we believe investment trust Merchants Trust (MRCH) is a great stock to own.First, the recently published half-year results demonstrated the merits of manager Simon Gergel's investment approach. This involves searching for attractively valued companies with strong fundamentals that are expected to pay a dividend yield above or in line with the market average.Se

The FTSE 100 is poised for some significant changes in the coming 12 months such as the removal of BHP (BHP) from the index and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) splitting into two businesses.The importance of sectors like resources, pharmaceuticals and insurance is likely to be reduced with consumer goods and banks potentially enjoying an increased weighting.Over time structural changes in the economy and di

How does a 5% return on your money sound right now? With UK interest rates showing little sign of increasing from rock bottom levels despite mounting inflation, a 5% rate is certainly appealing.If you are using your investments to pay the bills or to fund your living expenses in retirement the income you receive is vital. The great news is that the dividends from stocks and shares can offer invest

When you buy a share in a company you are literally buying a share in its future earnings. As an ordinary shareholder, you are entitled to vote at the company's annual general meeting and any extraordinary meetings that are called, to buy more shares when the company has a pre-emptive rights issue, and most importantly you own a share of the dividends.Dividends are cash payments to shareholders fr