UK CPI rose 0.7% over the year to January, up slightly from December’s 0.6% figure, showing further tentative signs of inflation creeping upwards.
Pretty much everyone agrees that while broadly stable for now, inflation will rise over the medium term. Vast amounts of monetary and fiscal stimulus to tackle the Covid pandemic fallout, coupled with pent-up consumer demand due to lockdowns, seems to make this inevitable.
Iboss investment director Chris Metcalfe recently announced changes to the firm’s fixed-income holdings and cash position to prepare for what he describes as “the most inflationary environment we’ve had for years”.
In this month’s issue of Portfolio Adviser, we find other wealth managers have been preparing for this eventuality. Find out how Rory McPherson from Punter Southall Wealth, Gavin Haynes from Fairview Investing and independent consultant Thomas Wells are bracing for higher inflation in portfolios.
Similarly, AJ Bell duo Ryan Hughes and Matt Brennan recently added “cheap” inflation protection to portfolios following their latest annual strategic asset allocation review. Find out what other changes they made in this month’s asset allocator profile.
Click here: To read the February issue of Portfolio Adviser
Elsewhere, we hear from Aberdeen Standard Investments’ duo Tom Moore and Charles Luke one year on from taking over the Woodford Income Focus fund. It’s been a busy 12 months as the pair have reinstated liquidity and risk management to a fund that was a far cry from a traditional UK equity income strategy when they assumed control.
In this month’s view from the top, Seven Investment Management chief executive Dean Proctor discusses everything from balancing culture and strategy to assessing value and corporate social responsibility, as well as technology-led disruption.
Our wealth manager profile finds WH Ireland’s Stephen Ford in an optimistic mood having turned the firm to profit and made a key acquisition in the past year, despite Covid.
As always, I hope you’re well and that you find this issue interesting and informative.
Sebastian Cheek
Editor, Portfolio Adviser
sebastian.cheek@lastwordmedia.com
