The recent UK Budget increase in the maximum annual contribution to tax efficient New Individual Savings Accounts (Nisa) to £15,000 should be good for investors in structured deposits and investments. Last week, Skandia announced that they are adding a cash Isa to their platform and increasing the rate they pay on cash deposits. These changes […]
Can the LSE deliver more for structured investors?
Historically, the leading retail structured investment markets have been Germany and Switzerland where they benefit from listing on innovative local exchanges. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has listed structured investments and covered warrants for a number of years now, but how does it compare with overseas competitors? Structures have been listed on exchanges internationally since […]
Industry benchmark required!
In my last blog I called for more performance data, which will still be welcome. However, to make structured investments truly comparable, an industry benchmark is needed. The recently published principles from the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) on benchmarks will lead to greater scrutiny but the increase […]
Where next for interest hedging by SMEs?
In June 2012, the FSA published the findings of their review into the sale of interest rate hedging products to small and medium sized businesses (‘SMEs’). The FSA “found that when properly sold, in the right circumstances to the right customers” hedging products “can protect customers against the risk of interest rate changes.” However, they […]
Advisers need more cash solutions!
A survey from Investec, reported in Financial News, has revealed that advisers need more cash products. Over the last five years, cash deposits and money market funds have benefitted from periods of market volatility. This is understandable, as these assets offer protection of capital (subject to credit worthiness and/or deposit protection schemes) and some income, […]
Former Skandia head starts SP consulting firm
Story from StucturedRetailProducts.com 2012 © Former Skandia head starts SP consulting firm 15 Jun 2012 Philip Bastiman (pictured), the former head of structured products at Skandia Investment Group, has re-emerged in the structured products market as managing director and founder of his own firm, Structured Investment Solutions Limited. Bastiman told SRP that Structured Investment Solutions […]
FSA Review – poses more questions?
Identifying your target clients and designing solutions to their problems/needs does not sound like rocket science. Nor does having a robust process for testing and bringing them to market and ensuring they do what it says on the tin. Yet the FSA take the view in the final guidance on Retail Product Development and Governance* […]
Structured product use set to grow in 2012
Research carried out by Money Management and due to be published in the June edition, showed that advisers expect clients to put more money in structured investments products in the next 12 months. FT Adviser reported that almost a third of respondents said they don’t intend to use the products over the coming year. However, […]