FEATURES:
It should be the most important document a shareholder reads - but the annual report is often less useful than it ought to be and change is needed, says Jonas Crosland.
■ Industrial strength retail bonds
Accessing the hidden treasures that power the German export economy is getting easier for retail investors in the UK. Julian Hofmann reports and identifies five bonds worth considering.
David Stevenson does not believe everything the bears say and continues to plough money into the resources sector.
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.
NEWS:
■ A euro recovery could boost UK shares.
■ Germany's manufacturers are looking forwards to a bright autumn.
■ US private equity group Blackstone sells Broadgate stake.
■ Foxtons unveils flotation plans.
■ Syria's strife boosts commodities.
■ Raven Russia shares are still undervalued.
■ Hansteen is reunited with Ashtenne.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK:
■ Little hope for exports: Chris Dillow says the fact that the euro area is recovering does not mean that net exports will contribute much to UK growth.
■ Next week's economics: A recovery in the euro area is helping the world economy to recover, although this might not be fully evident in UK data, next week's numbers could tell us.
COMMENT:
Our columnists offer in-depth analysis and investment ideas:
■ The Editor: Warning signs - Investors should treat big mergers and opportunistic IPOs as a major red flag that markets may be overheating.
■ The Trader: Fighting talk: The history of recent western intervention in the Middle East is good news for the bull market.
The Trader, Dominic Picarda, publishes his outlook for ten major equity, currency and commodity markets on a daily basis. You can view his articles on his comment page, or sign up to The Trader's market outlook emails.
■ Simon Thompson: Flying bargain shares: Our companies editor's Bargain Shares portfolio is beating the market once again and he sees scope for even greater gains in the months ahead. Simon has also written the following online exclusive:
- Time to take a punt: Our companies editor sees obvious upside in a small-cap online gaming company.
■ Chris Dillow: The hunt for cyclicals: What is a cyclical share? The answer might surprise you. Also see:
- Simple strategies win: Simple strategies of buying income have done better in most assets than economics textbooks suggest. But such strategies are high-risk.
- Gilts' overreaction: The fact that the gilt market's inflation expectations have fallen tells us more about gilts than it does about the outlook for inflation.
Read more articles by Chris Dillow on his comment page.
YOUR MONEY:
Financial planning, tax and investment wisdom:
■ Reader portfolio: Our reader is working abroad and wants to boost his retirement income, but needs to establish his attitude to risk.
■ Financial planning: Looking beyond annuity rates.
■ SmartMoney: Don't fall for the 'money illusion.'
SHARE TIPS OF THE WEEK:
■ Orders are rolling in thick and fast at this lowly-rated support services group, even before a cyclical recovery in its markets really kicks in. That's a solid foundation for its chunky dividend.
■ This software company helps its customers squeeze more performance out of their IT systems. It's a highly profitable business, which is why shareholders can expect bumper cash payouts this year.
■ The government's housing market largesse could be good news for this niche real-estate company - but the fat dividend yield and deep discount on its shares suggest investors are still too hung up on past problems.
■ With its sales highly geared to a housing market recovery, and new high-tech versions of its iconic cookers proving a hit with well-heeled customers, its no wonder that this group's directors have been buying.
FUND TIP OF THE WEEK:
■ Fed taper fears have seen money flooding out of emerging markets, but that's left this brilliantly managed Asian investment trust looking like a great opportunity for those looking for some income diversification.
SHARE TIP UPDATES:
■ Ahold
FUNDS:
■ Fund news: Analysts divided, but Euromania persists.
■ Share I love: IP Group offers unrivalled access to the best ideas from a range of the UK's best universities.
■ ETCs: ETCs tackle 'contango' issues.
■ Top 100 funds: Is there a bright future for JEO?
SHARES:
■ Sector focus: Reviving retail - includes video.
■ Dividend of the week: Constructing a stronger future.
■ Results
■ Afren
■ British Polythene Industries
■ Bunzl
■ Costain
■ G4S
■ Glanbia
■ Grafton
■ IMI
■ Petrofac
■ Phoenix
■ Regus
■ Robinson
■ Sportech
■ Starwood European Real Estate
■ Vitec
■ Directors' dealings: Notable trans actions at Synthomer and Delcam, plus a table of all boardroom share trades.
■ Week ahead: A summary of key company announcements expected in the coming week.
TAKEOVERS:
■ Download this week's takeover tables as a PDF.
