Kepler Trust Intelligence Podcast

In our new monthly podcast, we bring you big picture insights from leading investment specialists, exploring the opportunities, challenges and potential threats shaping investors’ portfolios. Our first guest is Charlotte Cuthbertson, co-manager of the MIGO Opportunities Trust (MIGO) which specialises in discount opportunities in the investment trust universe. Charlotte has extensive experience in...

Jo Groves and Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler Trust Intelligence discuss the most notable news and interviews in the investment trust world in September. We discuss the triple whammy of news from Chrysalis Investments, the impact on AVI Global and the final details of the Alliance Trust-Witan merger. We also bring you the highlights from our latest webinar series on global equities in a year of...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Olivia Markham, co-manager of BlackRock World Mining, about the opportunity for investors in the commodities sector and the strong secular tailwinds from the energy transition. 00:00 Introduction 00:18 Overview of the fund and current weightings 01:30 Allocation to private assets 02:32 Why the sector lends itself to active management 03:30 Recent driver...

Jo Groves and Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler Trust Intelligence discuss the most notable news in the investment trust world in August. Thomas McMahon, head of investment companies research at KTI, joins us to talk through the launch of Aberforth Geared Value & Income, including some of the potential benefits and returns for investors. Ryan provides a run-down on the latest developments at...

Jo Groves and Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler Trust Intelligence discuss the most notable news, reviews and interviews in the investment trust world in June. We talk about the merger of Alliance Trust and Witan, alongside the unsuccessful IPO of the Special Opportunities REIT and the newly-announced enhanced dividend and discount management policy for Schroder Japan. We also bring you the highl...

Trusts in Focus: We look at the enhanced dividend and discount management policy for Schroder Japan In this episode of Trusts in Focus, we discuss the newly-announced enhanced dividend and discount management policy for Schroder Japan, together with our view on the trust and the wider Japan sector. 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Overview of enhanced dividend policy 04:30 Overview of discount management...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Richard Sennitt, manager of Schroder Oriental Income, about the opportunity for investors in the Asian income sector which offers access to world-leading companies in the region.   00:00 Introduction 00: 14 Overview of the fund and current portfolio 02:07 Assessing value and key investment attributes 03:32 Why active management matters and key different...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Stephen Lilley, manager of Greencoat UK Wind, about the opportunity for investors in renewable infrastructure, including the strong secular growth drivers for UK wind infrastructure. 00:00 Introduction & performance highlights 03:40 Is the opportunity still as compelling as it was at launch? 08:24 How healthy are underlying dividends from power comp...

Jo Groves and Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler Trust Intelligence discuss some of the most notable news stories in the investment trust world over the past month. We talk about the latest news for Scottish Mortgage, Henderson and Pantheon International, as well as results for Schroder AsiaPacific and Oriental Income. We also bring you some of the highlights from our recent podcasts with Richard...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Christopher Berrier, manager of Brown Advisory US Smaller Companies, about the opportunity for investors in the US small-cap sector, including recent performance and why the US small-cap sector lends itself well to active management.

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Richard Staveley, manager of Rockwood Strategic, about the opportunity for investors in UK small-caps, including some of the key drivers behind Rockwood’s strong track record of outperformance.

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Nicholas Todd, one of our Kepler Trust Intelligence analysts, about investing in UK small-caps and what BlackRock Smaller Companies (BRSC) offers investors looking for exposure to UK equities.

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Richard Aston, Manager of CC Japan Income and Growth Trust (CCJI). Richard talks through why corporate reforms have made Japan an increasingly attractive place to invest, what sorts of companies CCJI looks for, and how the trust's portfolio is structured.  00:00 Intro 01:00 What is CCJI? 01:38 What's attractive about Japanese stocks today? 03:58 How do...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Thomas Moore, Manager of the Abrdn Equity Income Trust (AEI). The trust pays a high yield and we talk through how Thomas looks to achieve and maintain that. We also look at the UK market more broadly and ask if there is anything which can cause a rerating in valuations. 00:00 - Risk warning  01:00 - Overview of AEI 06:00 - Avoiding value traps 10:15 - I...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Thomas McMahon, Investment Trust Research Manager at Kepler Trust Intelligence, about BlackRock Frontiers (BRFI). We look at the trust's unique investment universe, what's attractive about it, and get an outlook for the year ahead. 00:00 - Risk warning and intro 01:00 - BRFI's investment universe 06:06 - How does BRFI use gearing? 08:20 - Correlation wi...

In this episode of Trust Issues we speak to Gabriel Sacks, Manager of Abrdn Asia Focus (AAS). We look at why Asia small caps have performed well relative to other parts of the world, fears about small cap performance post-rate hikes, being underweight India and more. You can skip to individual questions using the timestamps below: 00:00 - Intro and risk warning 00:48 - What does AAS aim to do? 02:...

In this episode of Trust Issues we speak to Iain Pyle, Manager of Shires Income (SHRS). We talk about the recent merger with Abrdn Smaller companies Income, the opportunity in UK small caps, and whether the base case market outlook of a soft landing is realistic. You can skip to individual answers via the buttons below. 00:00 – Intro and risk warning 00:50 – What is Shires Income? 02:59 – What ben...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Nicholas Todd, one of our Kepler Trust Intelligence analysts, about investing in multi-manager funds and what Alliance Trust (ATST) offers investors looking for a core global equity holding.   00:00  Introduction and risk warnings 01:08  What are multi-manager funds? 03:16  How have multi-manager funds performed? 04:19  What type of investor might want...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we're joined by Sue Noffke. Sue is Head of UK Equities at Schroders and Manager of Schroder Income Growth (SCF). We talk about the opportunity in UK equities, areas of the market that look attractive and Sue's outlook for the year ahead. You can skip to individual questions using the buttons below: 00:00 - Risking warning  01:33 - What is SCF and what do you invest...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Ailsa Craig, Investment Manager at International Biotechnology Trust (IBT). The trust recently announced it would be moving to Schroders and we discuss the move, developments in biotech this year, what the IBT managers have been investing in, and more. You can skip to individual questions using the buttons below: 00:00 - Intro and risk warnings 01:17 -...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Dean Orrico, President and CEO of Middlefield Group, a specialist asset manager that's based in Toronto. We speak about the firm's investment trust Middlefield Canadian Income (MCT) and why Canadian stocks look particularly attractive at the moment.  There are several factors at play here, including low valuations, indirect exposure to the US , a growin...

In this episode of Trust Issues we speak to Kristy Fong, Manager of the Abrdn New India Investment Trust (ANII). We talk about why valuations in India are high, what could change that, technological developments, Modi's election and more. You can skip to individual questions using the timestamps below: 00:00 - Risk warnings 01:00 - What is Abrdn New India? 03:18 - Are Indian stocks being pushed up...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Pruksa Iamthongthong, Co-Manager of Asia Dragon. We look at some of the major trends in Asia today, including infrastructure plays, green energy, consumer growth and what's happening in China. You can skip to individual questions using the timestamps below: 00:00 - Risk warnings 01:08 - What is Asia Dragon? 02:55 - What opportunities do you see in consu...

In this episode Trust Issues, we speak to Dominic Scriven, the Founder and Chairman of Dragon Capital - the asset management group behind Vietnam Enterprise Investments (VEIL). In the episode we discuss inflation in Vietnam, how tech is changing the investment opportunities in the country, and some of the themes we see in the VEIL portfolio. You can skip to individual questions using the timestamp...

In this episode of Trust Issues, we speak to Schroder AsiaPacific Co-Manager Abbas Barkhordar. Abbas talks about some of the regions growth prospects, we talk about buy and sell decisions, risks around China and more. You can skip to individual questions using the timestamps below: 00:00 - Risk warnings 01:00 - What does Schroder AsiaPacific invest in? 04:40 - What drives your buy / sell decisions...