Unit Trust ISA

MickKnipfler

I haven't put anything in an ISA this year so can still contribute the full amount. Is anybody ahead of me on this? Which funds are you veering towards and why?

dunstonh

If you have £7k to put in then a spread of 7x£1000 across the sectors but weighted to your risk profile would seem about right.

Although it would depend on whether you are adding to a larger portfolio or just starting out.

MickKnipfler

I have a mixed portfolio currently. I'm looking to invest for this and next year. Only just started looking round though and you know what a minefield it is. I could pay for specialist advice but I'm not convinced it's better than my own research/intuition which has always served me well in the past

EdInvestor

MickKnipfler wrote: »

I have a mixed portfolio currently.

That doesn't tell us much Perhaps you could list what you already have?

EagerLearner

I'd also be interested on piggy-backing on this... although I only have a measley £500 to invest!

Started yesterday with Hargreaves Lansdown with £200 initial lump sum on Jupiter China (accumulation) and from hereonin will pay £50 a month extra to that unit trust via DD. I hope they will accept the cheque with the application form, otherwise that £200 cheque will have to be drip fed via DD @ £50 a time...

Now have an additional £500 lump sum, which I'd prefer to invest in 2 less risky funds for safety, or in one fund that pays more than a savings account on average... reticent about UK at the moment though as property seems to be iffy... any ideas?

This is my first week as a wannabe-investor - feel free to teach me the hard way!

carnet

EagerLearner wrote: »

Started yesterday with Hargreaves Lansdown with £200 initial lump sum on Jupiter China (accumulation) and from hereonin will pay £50 a month extra to that unit trust via DD

Many (including myself) believe that the Chinese markets are a bubble situation just waiting to burst, so wouldn't be putting any new money there right now.... although, if it does go belly up soon, your reg. savings might do well over the medium/long term.

I hope they will accept the cheque with the application form, otherwise that £200 cheque will have to be drip fed via DD @ £50 a time...

They will, if its also accompanied by a reg. savings application in respect of the same fund.

Now have an additional £500 lump sum, which I'd prefer to invest in 2 less risky funds for safety, or in one fund that pays more than a savings account on average... reticent about UK at the moment though as property seems to be iffy... any ideas?

Can't give specific fund recommendations on these boards. Although can say that, if you don't like the UK atm, there are now Global, European, Japanese and Far East Income funds on the market. However the yield on these will not initially be as high as a deposit A/c.

savingforoz

Got an update from Hargreaves Lansdown ref Jupiter China in the week. Apparently the fund doesn't invest in the overheated Chinese market, which probably is a huge bubble waiting to burst, but in larger well established companies based in Hong Kong, which is quite different per HL to the rest of the CHinese market. I think that there may be two stockmarkets, one in Shanghai and one Hong Kong based? and Jupiter China uses companies on the more stable Hong Kong market.

MickKnipfler

I saw that too

EagerLearner

Yes Hk is 54.2% of the fund, followed by 33.3% China, 9.6% Singapore etc. I liked the fact that the fund is fairly new so I may have a chance at buying in low and making some money rather than buying into a fund that is older and may have already plateaued (sp?) plus those are more expensive. Ok, ok, I did it 'cause £0.78p a unit gets me more units per £50 and looks better...

Carnet - I wanted accumulation - don't fancy Japan as heard it's volatile so maybe Global or European (as already have Jupiter China re Far East). Any general fund providers that are safer/better than others? Then I can do my own research within each provider, therefore you would not be recommending any specific fund.

Should I be worried about the 2% drop on the stocks this past week? Someone I spoke to said he was considering moving a considerable part of his portfolio to cash...

Many thanks.

agal

EagerLearner wrote: »

Should I be worried about the 2% drop on the stocks this past week? Someone I spoke to said he was considering moving a considerable part of his portfolio to cash...

Frankly, if you are going to worry about a 2% drop you're in the wrong game.

EagerLearner wrote: »

I did it 'cause £0.78p a unit gets me more units per £50 and looks better...

And when The Chinese market drops 50% you'll be able to get twice as many units
Seriously, a regular savings plan into Jupiter China is a great idea IF you let it run for some time and don't sweat the rises and falls that occur in any market but more so in the Chinese one.

carnet

EagerLearner wrote: »

Yes Hk is 54.2% of the fund, followed by 33.3% China, 9.6% Singapore etc.

Not so, according to Jupiter yesterday ;

"The internal Chinese stock market has A shares and these shares are only available to Chinese investors and they, in turn, are not allowed to invest anywhere else. The Jupiter China fund does not (and can not) invest in ‘A’ shares – most of its holdings are in Hong Kong and other markets where Chinese companies are listed, such as Singapore.

The allocation split is as follows : Hong Kong 94.24% ; Singapore 3.95% ; Cash 1.81%"

So it is essentially a HK fund :eek:

I liked the fact that the fund is fairly new so I may have a chance at buying in low and making some money rather than buying into a fund that is older and may have already plateaued (sp?) plus those are more expensive. Ok, ok, I did it 'cause £0.78p a unit gets me more units per £50 and looks better...

Makes absolutely no difference what the price per unit/share is - although, for various reasons, new funds do have a tendency to outperform, at least in the short-term.

I wanted accumulation -..... so maybe Global or European (as already have Jupiter China re Far East). Any general fund providers that are safer/better than others? Then I can do my own research within each provider, therefore you would not be recommending any specific fund.

I only mentioned income funds because in one of your previous posts you stated ;

I'd prefer to invest in 2 less risky funds for safety, or in one fund that pays more than a savings account on average...

I interpreted this to mean that you were looking for yield. If you meant that you were after a fund which would give you more capital growth than a deposit account then there is no fund which can guarantee this. BTW, Jupiter China cannot be considered a FE (as a sector) fund (see above).

don't fancy Japan as heard it's volatile

Japan is now one of the three cheapest markets around and when the yen finally starts to strengthen on IR rises (hopefully by August) and money begins to be repatriated, should represent a compelling buying opportunity, IMHO.

From experience there are houses I do definitely prefer (and some, like Artemis, Fidelity & Liontrust I just don't like at all - even though they do pull in a lot of money (in fact, that is the main reason I don't like 'em ).

However no management cos. are good in all areas, some have a few strengths - and most have many weaknesses . I follow the individual managers - not the houses. You would really need to decide in which areas you wish to invest before I could offer any further advice ( eg if I were investing in 20 funds they would probably end up spread over about 15 different houses !).

Should I be worried about the 2% drop on the stocks this past week?

Well, if you are, you're hair's going to turn white over the next few months if my predictions turn out to be anywhere near correct .

Someone I spoke to said he was considering moving a considerable part of his portfolio to cash...

A wise and astute investor.