Investors Chronicle - This week's articles: 11 May 2012

FEATURES:

Careful stock-picking and impeccable market timing help, but the key to generating the best long-term returns is asset allocation. We've created three portfolios based on this principle to suit different types of investors: follow them for easy, low maintenance and successful investing.

■ The real dividend heroes

We identify the investment trusts that not only have a long record of raising dividends but have also managed to raise them enough to outpace inflation.

Bargain shares updates:

■ Small-cap value shares worth buying

■ Recovery small-cap plays

Simon Thompson updates his 2012 bargain portfolio and has good news to report. Overall the portfolio is up 6 per cent against a market that’s down 3 per cent, and he's convinced there's scope for further upside.

■ Europe-free investing

With European economies struggling and political uncertainties rising, giving Europe a wide berth right now could be a sensible move. We've found eight growth stocks with significant non-European exposure.

SEVEN DAYS:

All you need to know about investing in the past seven days: what's rising, what's falling and what's making the headlines, plus the key market statistics this week

NEWS:

■ Greek threat to Europe's banks

■ Aviva shareholders raise their voices

■ The aerospace boom is no bubble.

COMMENT:

Our columnists offer in-depth analysis and investment ideas:

■ No free lunch - Sick of lousy corporate governance and rewards for failure?

■ Simon Thompson - Small-cap value shares worth buying

■ Chris Dillow - Seasonal sensitivity: Returns on smaller stocks are even more seasonal than returns on larger ones.

YOUR MONEY:

Financial planning, tax and investment wisdom:

■ Portfolio - David Stevenson has started to build some exposure to emerging markets debt

■ Family - Setting up an education trust

■ Smart Money - The downside of regular investing

SHARE TIPS:

■ This construction materials giant is back on firm foundations after a difficult few years, plus it's underpinned by vast amounts of tangible assets.

■ Things look set to get worse before they get better at this struggling manager – and the high dividend yield is the subject of much debate with most expecting a cut.

■ You're likely to encounter the products this company makes on a daily basis. Now a move into new markets could improve its fortunes.

■ This portfolio of mortgage backed securities offers big dividends and potential for capital gains.

FUND TIP:

■ Here's a fund offering small company outperformance while avoiding too much exposure to the recession-hit UK.

BOND OF THE WEEK:

■ A new bond from a household name offering a yield to redemption of 5 per cent.

BROKERS' TIPS:

■ Brokers' views on Genus and JD Wetherspoon.

SHARE TIP UPDATES:

■ Land Securities,

■ Cobham

■ Lancashire Holdings