Informed Choice chartered financial planner Martin Bamford explains what matters now as global equity markets suffer their worst one day fall in almost three years.

The FSA has issued a consumer warning about firms promoting carbon credit trading schemes.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a Policy Statement looking at the use of investment platforms, often referred to as ‘wraps’, in the context of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares finished the week at 5,815.19, down 58.02 points or -0.99% on the day and down 119.83 points (-2.02%) over the week.

Informed Choice chartered financial planner Martin Bamford was quoted in the Daily Express today, in an article looking at alternative investments such as gold, art or fine wine.

The UK economy grew by only 0.2% in the second quarter of 2011, with this slow rate of GDP growth blamed partially on the additional bank holiday in April.

New figures from Financial Express show that the majority of funds in the IMA Absolute Return sector failed to beat inflation to deliver positive returns in real terms in the 12 months to 30th June 2011.

Total dividends paid out by UK firms increased by 27% in the first quarter of 2011.

The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares finished the week at 5,935.02, up 35.13 points or +0.60% on the day and up 91.36 points (+1.56%) over the week.

The peak in the price of gold this week has reopened the debate around the suitability of gold within an investment portfolio.

The Investment Management Association (IMA) is planning to monitor the underlying holdings of funds within its Money Market sector, in order to meet new FSA and European requirements.

New research from Legal and General Investments suggests that IFAs select investment funds based on fund manager, fund cost and fund house.

The results of a ‘stress test’ by the European Banking Authority on ninety European banks were revealed at the end of last week, with eight banks failing the financial health check.

Informed Choice chartered financial planner Martin Bamford was featured in the FT today, commenting in an article looking at the features of permanent interest-bearing shares (Pibs).

The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares finished the week at 5,843.66, down 3.29 points or -0.06% on the day and down 146.92 points (-2.45%) over the week.

Informed Choice chartered financial planner Martin Bamford has been quoted in Investors Chronicle, in an article exploring alternative investments.

The suggestion from HSBC for providers of swap-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to use the letter x to identify the use of derivatives makes real sense.

The ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded Irish debt to ‘junk’ status with the prospect it will need a further bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares finished the week at 5,990.58, down 63.97 points or -1.06% on the day and up 0.82 points (0.01%) over the week.

We look at news that Standard Life Investments plans to increase the annual management charges on seven of their retail funds.