Commentaries
REGULATION
Costing regulation
The Treasury Select Committee, under its admirable Chairman Andrew Tyrie MP, has served notice that it is tired of hearing City people moan about regulation, its costs and its injustices. Mr Tyrie has asked for hard facts, making the very reasonable point that unless he is given evidence with which to confront the Government, he can hardly be expected to do anything about it. (1 November 2011)
Who guards the guardians?
September is a strange month in the legislative calendar. Parliament returns for ten days after the summer break, and then promptly shuts for a month while the political parties head off to their conferences. (5 September 2011)
Does banning short selling work?
Yesterday a number of continental European regulators imposed a ban on short selling certain financial stocks. (12 August 2011)
FUNDS
“Hidden costs” – what hidden costs?
Here’s a new year puzzle for you. Fund A has annual charges of 1.5%, and in addition incurs annual trading costs in its portfolio of 0.2%. (27 January 2012)
Irresponsible scaremongering, yet again
I groaned inwardly over breakfast this Sunday when I read the front page headline in the normally excellent Observer. (19 December 2011)
Sorting out the managed sectors
Keen followers of the industry will recall the mixed reception we got when announcing proposals following our review of the IMA managed sectors in June. (29 November 2011)
“Hidden charges” – great story, but the numbers don’t add up
Recent weeks have seen a plethora of stories reviving the old chestnut that fund managers’ reckless over-trading and wilful failure to disclose the associated trading costs mean that investors are losing billions every year without realising it. (28 November 2011)
TAX
A modest proposal to create jobs
Yesterday Prime Minister David Cameron launched a new campaign to promote Britain as a great place to do business. And last week the ONS reported the largest increase in unemployment in nearly two years, as the number of people unemployed in the UK rose to 2.51 million. (23 September 2011)
Let’s not have another tax on saving
Alarm bells rang far and wide last month when the European Commission released a budget for the coming years. (11 July 2011)
Surprise, surprise, savings incentives do work
To a Government looking to reduce its deficit, tax breaks for saving look like a soft target. (4 October 2010)
INVESTMENT
The truth about short-termism
Our old friend short-termism stays stubbornly on policy-makers’ agendas. (5 August 2011)
Missing the point in the long term
It is suddenly fashionable for policymakers and opinion formers to talk about “short-termism”. (6 June 2011)
Shining a light on capital market intermediaries
Before Christmas, IMA Chairman Dougie Ferrans put the spotlight on the murky world of investment banking fees. (6 January 2011)
THE INDUSTRY
Our latest survey
Today sees the publication of the IMA’s comprehensive annual survey of the UK asset management industry. It is a snapshot at the end of last year, both in figures and from interviews with leading industry figures. (25 July 2011)
Welcome to our new website
Our website is one of the main ways we communicate – and I have long wanted to improve it. I do hope you like what we’ve done. (22 September 2010)
PENSIONS
NEST is good news - but can't we make pensions more like ISA's?
The news that NEST has appointed managers for its fund is another positive step towards a better retirement system. (16 February 2011)
Pensions could be 60% higher? More like 7%, actually
Groundhog Day last week, courtesy of the Royal Society of Arts, which is promoting its “People’s Pension”. (10 December 2010)