A Window on the Future; FINANCIAL MAIL

Byline: JEFF PRESTRIDGE

MOST investors in unit trusts and investment trusts have had a volatile ride in 1997.

Stock markets across the world have responded nervously as the Far Eastern economic miracle has crumbled.

While most investors who take the long view and spread their risks have come out smiling, some, such as those with big holdings in Far Eastern funds, are nursing sore heads.

So as we draw closer to 2000 and the Millennium Dome starts to take shape in Greenwich, east London, should investors look on the New Year as a time to rethink their global strategy towards equities?

Should they maintain their core investments in the UK, or should they take advantage of turmoil in the Far East to increase exposure on the principle that what goes down must go back up - eventually. Or should they avoid equity-related funds altogether?

To help investors answer these questions, we asked a panel of 10 leading independent financial advisers for their assessments on prospects for four key investment areas - the UK, the US, Europe and the Far East.

Unit trusts and investment trusts are recommended because they offer convenient and low-cost routes into equities. By investing in a range of companies, they also provide exposure to diversified portfolios of shares.

While our advisers believe investors can continue to do well through long-term exposure to equities, especially via UK and European funds, they should …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: A Window on the Future; FINANCIAL MAIL. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Mail on Sunday (London, England). Publication date: December 28, 1997. Page number: 20. © 2009 Solo Syndication Limited. COPYRIGHT 1997 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.