According to data from the AIC, the average investment trust discount to net asset value has widened from 12.2% at the end of 2022 to 14.5% as of 8 September 2023, while sector averages have generally widened. The exception is private equity, which narrowed from 25.1% to 4.5%, skewed by 3i's (III) dramatic swing from discount to premium.While this presents an opportunity to buy into parts of the m

Our investor this week is Andy, who is in his early thirties and has been investing since he left university around a decade ago.A history graduate, Andy puts his initial interest in finance and markets down to his father who is an accountant.'I can't remember exactly what the trigger was,' says Andy, 'but around the time I was leaving university the economy was still just coming out of the global

- Planned renewables price cap sinks sector- UK cap seen lower than European equivalent- Renewables firms threaten to cut investmentShares in gas and electricity distributor Centrica (CNA) hit their lowest level this year, falling almost 5% to 67.5p in early trading, after it was reported the government was planning to cap prices on renewable energy.Shares in rival utility Drax (DRX) were also low

As investors debate whether the next move in markets is up or down, it's worth noting that there are a group of stocks which are quietly making new 52-week and multi-year highs and even a few making new all-time highs.While some are involved in special situations, such as bid talks, and some are related to the unprecedented surge in energy prices, the most interesting from our point of view are th

- Index changes to be announced tonight- Three new names to join the FTSE 100- Four new faces in the mid-cap FTSE 250Investors with FTSE tracker funds will be keenly waiting for details of the latest index reshuffle due to be published after the market close tonight.As well as changes to the FTSE 100 big-cap index there are expected to be several changes to the FTSE 250 mid-cap benchmark and the F

- Bluefield Solar NAV per share up 10%- NextEnergy Solar NAV per share up 7.8%- Both trusts benefit from higher power pricesSolar-focused investment trusts Bluefield Solar Income (BSIF) and NextEnergy Solar (NESF) have both reported material increases in the value of their assets thanks to higher power prices.With both funds also displaying their inflation-busting credentials, shares in Bluefield

With inflation eating away at investors' income, high-yield trusts can look very appealing. However, the big question investors should ask before committing themselves is just how sustainable are the dividend streams?In this article we analyse four of the highest-yielding trusts, with a diverse mix of income generation, from European real estate and specialist lending to solar assets and Far Easte

Investment trusts paid record dividends of £5.5 billion in the 12 months to the end of March 2022, up 15.4% year-on-year according to research by Link Group.Dividends from investment trusts have proved much steadier through the pandemic than those from individual companies listed on stock markets thanks to their ability to invest almost anywhere in the world.The advantages of the investment trust

It is one thing for analysts to forecast which stocks and sectors will do well in a rising-rate or inflationary environment, but when it actually comes to pass it's always fascinating to see what works in practice.Judging by the list of stocks making 12-month highs over the past week, those who favoured real assets were on the money.Standing tall are 3i Infrastructure (3IN), AEW UK REIT (AEWU), GC

One reason why Europe is facing an energy crisis is that renewables power generation fell short of expectations after a summer which was neither sufficiently windy nor sunny.While this reveals one of the limitations of solar and wind power and has provided a reminder of the continuing role of natural gas, among other traditional sources of energy, it also shows the need for further investment to b

The FTSE 100 index ended Friday's session in negative territory falling 0.91% to 6963.64 below the psychologically critical 7,000 level. The FTSE 250 index fared marginally better, remaining in positive territory up 0.1% at 23,658.14.Two main factors contributed to this decidedly mixed performance. First, the UK market was uninspired by the latest UK retail sales volumes for August which showed a

The FTSE 100 index dipped into negative territory during midday trading on Friday, softening by 0.2% to 7,0111.79. In contrast the FTSE 250 Index fared better trading 0.4% higher at 23,735.41.The UK market was uninspired by the latest UK retail sales volumes for August which showed a 0.9% decline from July. This compared with a consensus forecast of a 0.5% rise.According to the ONS report 6.5% of

Solar power investment company NextEnergy Solar (NESF) was unchanged at 98.6p as it announced a £100 million joint venture partnership with Eelpower, a battery storage specialist.The joint venture is targeting the establishment of up to 250MW (megawatts) in projects with £100 million in invested capital and has already signed its first acquisition of a 50MW standalone battery storage project.The

London's FTSE 100 firmed 0.36% to 7,052.58 on Friday, while the FTSE 250 improved 0.53% to 23,758.83, as steadying Asian markets and a potential easing of UK travel restrictions provided the backdrop for some decent gains heading into the weekend.Airlines and other stocks whose fortunes are tied to the travel industry, including International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), TUI (TUI) and WH Smith (SM

UK stocks ended the day barely changed on Tuesday after data showed the local economy grew modestly in February and investors globally remained wary of rising bond yields, tempering vaccine optimism.At the close the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up just 2 points at 6,890 despite a wave of positive earnings reports and strong gains in consumer stocks.UK gross domestic product rose 0.4% in the month

UK stocks marked time on Tuesday after data showed the local economy grew modestly in February and investors globally remained wary of rising bond yields, tempering vaccine optimism.At midday the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 5 points at 6,884 with gains in consumer stocks offset by losses in interest rate-sensitive stocks such as utilities.UK gross domestic product rose 0.4% in the month of F

On the face of it, investment trusts and other vehicles which invest in long-term assets with long-term cash flows should be a sound investment, especially if there is an element of growth either in asset values or dividends.For example, renewable energy infrastructure projects - which are set to grow exponentially as companies and governments around the world target zero carbon emissions by 2050

London's FTSE 100 struggled to make headway on Monday, creeping into the red by the close on news the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University, and to be manufactured by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN), has been shown to be 70% effective in protecting people against Covid-19.This effectiveness is less than the 95% protection shown by the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, which

UK stocks began the week strongly on news the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University, and to be manufactured by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN), has been shown to be 70% effective in protecting people against Covid-19 in phase-three trial data.The effectiveness is less than the 95% protection shown by the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, but this vaccine is a lot cheaper to

UK stocks began the week strongly after more positive news on a coronavirus vaccine emerged this morning.The vaccine developed by Oxford University, and to be manufactured by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN), has been shown to be 70% effective in protecting people against Covid-19 in phase-three trial data.The effectiveness is less than the 95% protection shown by the Moderna and Pfizer/BioN