Trustnet

iShares dominated UK best-buy lists in 2025 with 21 recommended funds across five major platforms, according to new Trustnet analysis. Vanguard followed with 15 funds, whilst Fidelity ranked third with 14. The data, covering Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, interactive investor, Fidelity and Barclays selections, underscores how low-cost passive strategies now anchor platform recommendations. Among iShares' most widely backed products: the Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF (£24.4bn AUM, 0.18% OCF) and Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (£15.1bn, 0.07% OCF). Yet active managers haven't disappeared. Artemis led purely active houses with nine recommendations, four run by FE fundinfo Alpha Managers. Which managers secured analyst confidence? Read the full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/ep4JjPUA #UKFunds #BestBuyLists #PassiveInvesting #ActiveManagement #FundSelection

Investors are often told that higher risk brings higher reward but the past year has shown this rule does not always hold true. FE Analytics data of sector performance versus volatility over the 12 months ending July 2025 revealed that, in some cases, the least volatile funds delivered stronger returns on average than their most volatile counterparts. Find out how each sector performed in my latest article for FE fundinfo's Trustnet here:

Want to learn about #commodities on your #coffee break, then look no further… With thanks to George Cotton and Benoît HARGER ,co-PMs of the JSS Commodity Transition Enhanced fund and investment specialist Jingchao Z..

UK fund managers are doubling down on smaller homegrown companies, betting on their resilience and strong earnings potential despite ongoing economic headwinds. I spoke to Julian Cane (Columbia Threadneedle Investments) and George Ensor (River Global Investors). Read the full article via FE fundinfo's Trustnet here:

Fund performance still opens the door, but it no longer earns the seat 💡 Our survey of nearly 1,000 UK fund selectors shows that while 72% prioritise long-term returns, transparency and consistent communication are equally critical in turbulent times. Clear strategy insight, consistent messaging and showing your work on platforms like Trustnet help selectors cut through the noise with complete data and timely commentary. ➡️Read the article to learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q03ClMd10 #Trustnet #FEfundinfo #AssetManagement #FundMarketing

[ #Fundinspo 🔎 ] 👉 Nearly 40 equity funds lost money last year, yet they've risen into the top quartile of their sector so far in 2025 📈 🥂 The #inflation cool down and #investors ready to support risk assets, this shifting environment caused some funds to lose money last year, only to jump into the first quartile in 2025. FE Analytics shows there are 38 funds from the Investment Association’s equity sectors that have already followed that change. Dive into it in this piece by Gary Jackson, head of editorial at Trustnet ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/efqGyK5U #FundInspiration WisdomTree Baillie Gifford Jupiter BlackRock

➡️ Interest rates have dropped to 4% from 4.25% following the latest meeting by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). 📢 A statement from the Bank of England (BoE) said: “There has been substantial disinflation over the past two and a half years, following previous external shocks, supported by the restrictive stance of monetary policy. That progress has allowed for reductions in Bank Rate over the past year.” 📑 Read the full article by Jonathan Jones, Editor at Trustnet 👉 https://lnkd.in/e9W-286y #Interest #Rate #BoE #inflation #UK #UKfunds

This week on Trustnet, the cracks in US dominance deepened. #Fundsmith Equity’s struggles have prompted Killik & Co to trim exposure, as "set-and-forget" #investing isn't working anymore. 👉https://lnkd.in/eJFVJmXu Meanwhile, the #FTSE100 has outpaced more than half of the S&P 500 over two years – including #Apple. 👉https://lnkd.in/eHY2k7BZ And Alan Bartlett of the Global Opportunities trust, who spoke with Patrick Sanders, is now holding 35% cash and argued many equities just aren’t worth the risk. 👉https://lnkd.in/ec5WQgVZ The message? Time to rethink where and how we invest – blind faith in the US is out, selectivity and flexibility are in.

Our thoughts on the US-Japan trade deal in Trustnet. Lale Akoner, global markets analyst at eToro, said: “Japan’s macro pressures, demographic decline, inflation risk and policy constraints left it little choice. The concessions made show how economic and political fragility erodes negotiating power. “While the investment fund helps preserve market access to US market without straining the fiscal balances in the short term, committing such a large sum to the investment fund may trigger political backlash over the long term”. Akoner said: “We expect this outcome to resonate in Brussels. The EU is finalising its own trade deal with Washington ahead of looming 30% tariffs, particularly on autos. “Japan’s deal suggests a pathway to de-escalation, but at a price. That’s a constructive signal for German equities and car makers, but also a warning that future US trade diplomacy may hinge less on tariffs and more on capital. Francesco Tius https://lnkd.in/dzEykpSU

Europe’s small & mid-cap (#SMID) market boasts numerous highly innovative companies run by exceptional management teams that fly under the radar of most mainstream investors.   Our approach to getting the best out of Europe's small-cap investment opportunity is to build portfolios that capture hidden opportunities, so it was great to see our discovery strategy named as one of Trustnet’s ‘hidden gems’ within Europe! https://lnkd.in/euzGvYG8