FEATURES:
Graeme Davies and the IC companies team show how it's possible to construct a complete, diversified, and tax sheltered portfolio using only building blocks from Aim.
Jonas Crosland looks at the problems facing SMEs and finds out how some are overcoming the obstacles to growth.
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:
■ Royal Mail delivers profits.
■ Invesco star manager Neil Woodford to leave.
CHARTS OF THE WEEK:
■ Our selection of the most interesting charts published this week.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK:
■ The other inflation problem - Chris Dillow says we do have a problem with inflation. But it's not the one everyone thinks it is.
■ Next week's economics: The UK economy is recovering strongly, next week's figures could show - but economists doubt whether the pace can be maintained.
COMMENT:
Our columnists offer in-depth analysis and investment ideas:
■ The Editor: An unpalatable cocktail - Government has a huge role to play in the fortunes of finance - unfortunately, politics and markets mix so badly.
■ Simon Thompson has written the following articles this week:
- Targeting special situations: Our companies editor sees ample scope for upside in two of the special situations he has been targeting.
- Gaining altitude: Simon Thompson sees potential for further upside in a small cap jet broker whose earnings are firmly on the ascent.
- Bargain shares flying: Simon Thompson’s 2013 Bargain share portfolio is flying and he has yet more good news to report.
- Punting on new highs: Our companies editor sees share price potential in an Aim-traded gaming stock that has reported a buoyant trading performance.
- Exploiting an arbitrage opportunity: Simon Thompson has spotted an arbitrage opportunity which is well worth exploiting.
- Binary bet: Our companies editor sees potential to double your money in the next three months in a small cap mining company with activities in South America.
Read more articles by Simon Thompson on his comment page.
■ Mr Bearbull: The valuation process: Touch screens maker Zytronic gets a clean bill of financial health and makes it into the Bearbull Income Portfolio, but another candidate fails.
■ The Trader: New high, new buy - The indices are going higher despite the US debt standoff, while I find weak breadth isn't so scary.
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.
■ Chronic investor: The ethics of pharma - The ethics of the pharmaceutical industry are often in the spotlight, but in a highly-regulated industry the marvel is that there is not more corruption.
■ Chris Dillow: The psychology of overtrading: There are rational and irrational motives for frequent trading. Also see:
- Risky funds: Portfolios of even good funds might be riskier than you think.
- Why tail risk matters: 'You've got to speculate to accumulate' is true - if you speculate on tail risk, rather than ordinary volatility.
Read more articles by Chris Dillow on his comment page.
■ Property: The end of the London affair - The end of quantitative easing may knock the capital's booming property market off its roll.
YOUR MONEY:
Financial planning, tax and investment wisdom:
■ Portfolio: A well structured portfolio with 18 holdings.
■ Financial planning: Keep tabs on your savings and investment protection.
■ Smart money: Teach kids good money habits before they are seven
■ Should a basic-rate taxpayer use an Isa?
SHARE TIPS OF THE WEEK:
■ Sentiment against this oil and gas producer has been unduly severe but should be boosted in the near term by North Sea developments.
■ This engineering outsourcing giant is recovering fast; a huge order book and even bigger bid pipeline means the good news should continue.
■ Taking account of cash that is expected to account for over a quarter of this defence contractor's market cap by the end of April, the shares look absurdly cheap.
■ This high-yielding builder's booming housebuilding division and construction business are set to benefit from an expected resurgence in infrastructure spending.
FUND TIP OF THE WEEK:
■ Shares in this Asian investment trust have moved out to a discount even though it is now run by managers with a strong track record.
SHARE TIP UPDATES:
BROKERS' TIPS:
■ Keller
FUNDS:
■ Fund news: Strong returns from UK Growth & Income investment trusts.
■ Shares I love: US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson should benefit from an ageing population and growing sales in emerging markets.
■ Big theme: How to avoid inheritance tax via Aim funds.
■ Interview: Henry Cooke, manager of the Threadneedle Asset Backed Income Investment Trust.
SHARES:
■ The lowdown on the latest company results:
■ Bellway
■ Ibex
■ Nanoco
■ YouGov
■ WH Smith
■ Stock screen: Cheap, high-growth Aim shares.
■ Sector focus: Picking winners to ride the recruiting cycle.
■ Dividend of the week: Drug developer dividends.
■ Directors' dealings: Notable transactions at Hochschild 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.
