Luke Bartholomew, Amanda Yeaman, Rebecca Maclean and Thomas Moore.   Last November’s Budget appeared to set the stage for a more positive outlook for UK equities. The Chancellor built herself some room to manoeuvre and tax hikes were not as severe as feared. The gilt market was tamed, and bond yields started to drop. There was a sense that the UK may be about to turn a […]

The post The UK Budget: 100 days on  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Xin-Yao Ng, Co-Manager, Aberdeen Asia Focus  Investors pay extra fees for active management. As a result, they’re likely to feel disappointed – if not thoroughly deceived – if they find an actively managed fund conspicuously mirrors its benchmark.  The debate over how much a portfolio should differ from its underlying index in order to avoid accusations of “tracking” has been raging for years. It’s now two decades since some kind of answer first […]

The post Why direct engagement makes a difference appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Xin-Yao Ng, Manager, Aberdeen Asia Focus  The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, in October 1957. Rocked by the abrupt realisation that it was trailing its arch-enemy in the nascent “space race”, America was instantly plunged into panic.  Reactions were varied in their wildness but united in their pessimism. Although Sputnik I measured only 58 centimetres in diameter, one prominent […]

The post One year on from DeepSeek: China and the tech race  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

As 2026 gets underway, there are some familiar patterns. The geopolitical noise that characterised 2025 is still very much in evidence. Diversification is a watchword, as investors discover that there is a world beyond US technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is still an important trend, that demands a response from investors. Yet the year ahead may also have some notable differences.  2025 was a […]

The post 2026: keeping calm and carrying on  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Isaac Thong, Lead Manager, Aberdeen Asian Income Fund  Every investment manager needs to adapt as the world changes. Recent years have seen global trading relationships redrawn, supply chains adjusted and economic power start to shift. Asia is increasingly emerging as an independent economic trading bloc, no longer reliant on Western economies for growth. We are […]

The post On the ground in Asia appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Abby Glennie and Amanda Yeaman, Co-Managers of Aberdeen UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust, explore why UK small caps remain undervalued and highlight the long-term growth opportunities they see in the sector. Investors have had plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about the UK economy, but the pervasive gloom may leave them overlooking a potential source […]

The post UK Small Caps: A reality check appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Watch the latest manager update video with abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust Co-Manager Abby Glennie as she talks about volatility, resilience, and opportunity.

The post Aberdeen UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust: Manager Update Video appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Iain Pyle, Manager, Shires Income  At the start of this year, investors were concerned that the arrival of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company Deep Seek would derail the long-running bull market in US equities. In the final few months of 2025, the worry is that valuations have moved so far that they underestimate the risks […]

The post Why UK equities could be the defensive play investors need  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Watch the online presentation for Aberdeen Asian Income Fund, featuring Chairman, Ian Cadby and Lead Manager, Isaac Thong.

The post Aberdeen Asian Income Fund: Online Presentation appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks is Co-Manager of Aberdeen Asia Focus What would you think if I were to say resilience is one of the most important attributes an investor can possess? More specifically, what would you think if I were to suggest it can be particularly useful in a market such as Asia?  You might infer that […]

The post Why investors shouldn’t mistake short-term setbacks for a slippery slope   appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

In the latest manager update video for Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust, Co-Manager Rebecca Maclean discusses the impact of tariffs on the portfolio, and provides an update on recent performance. Capital at risk.

The post Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust: Building a resilient portfolio appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Ben Ritchie, Co-manager of Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust, introduces the trust and provides insights into his career in investment management.

The post Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust : Meet the manager appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

The Indian government had been justified in expecting a good outcome from the tariff discussions with the US. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to enjoy good relations, while consecutive US administrations in recent years have viewed India as an important ally in the Indo-Pacific region. As a fast-growing emerging economy, there […]

The post India: Does tariff turmoil matter for markets?   appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks is Co-Manager of abrdn Asia Focus  There is a school of thought which holds that politics’ influence on investment decisions should be minimal and maybe even non-existent. What really matters, the argument goes, is the health or otherwise of individual businesses.  There is certainly a lot to be said for this view. As […]

The post Why now could be a good time for a Korea move  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Thomas Moore, Manager, Aberdeen Equity Income Trust  The resurgence in UK equities could come as quite a surprise for investors who have grown used to the dominance of US growth companies over the past decade. In the first 6 months of 2025, the FTSE All-Share index has delivered a total return of +9.1%, significantly outperforming […]

The post Higher yield UK stocks are outperforming as US sentiment wavers – is this just the beginning?   appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Eric Chan, Co-Manager of Aberdeen Asian Income Fund, shares an update on the trust, including 2024 performance highlights and recent portfolio activity.

The post Aberdeen Asian Income Fund – Manager Update appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks, Co-manager, abrdn Asia Focus plc  Walt Disney excelled in the art of fairytales. He first demonstrated a talent for them in the early 1920s, when he was still working at the humble Laugh-O-Gram studio, rattling out the likes of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Puss in Boots.  In the […]

The post What Disney tells us about how we draw investment conclusions  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Manager, Murray Income Trust  “It’s a rare business that doesn’t have a way worse future than it has a past.” – Charlie Munger  On Murray Income Trust, quality is our lodestar. It is the guiding philosophy that drives our investment decision-making, helping us uncover those companies that can deliver strong, repeatable returns year […]

The post The unswerving search for quality  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Manager of Murray Income Trust  It may have felt choppy to investors, but the reorientation of markets since the start of the year is a welcome development. Rather than the pursuit of growth at all costs, investors are starting to re-evaluate companies on more rational metrics. In this environment, the value of dividends […]

The post Dividends: Reliability in uncertain times  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Iain Pyle, Lead Manager, Shires Income PLC  Investors are navigating an increasingly risky world. Months into the new US administration, the tariff regime remains a looming threat, but details are scant. Inflation appears to be reviving, with a potential impact on the interest rate cycle. The new US administration is changing the geopolitical goalposts, with […]

The post Investing in an uncertain world: is risk properly understood?  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Murray Income Trust is an investment trust founded in 1923 aiming for high and growing income with capital growth. The income defender: proven to enable risk-averse income seekers to tap into the income growth potential of equities, with a long track record of raising dividends every year since 1973.  The active diversifier: manages equity risk through careful […]

The post Murray Income Trust: Meet the manager appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks, Co-Manager, abrdn Asia Focus plc  Diversification is one of the investment world’s most important concepts. Its basic premise is that a portfolio consisting of multiple asset types is likely to perform better than one consisting of relatively few.  The idea first emerged almost three quarters of a century ago, when Harry Markowitz published […]

The post In search of real diversification  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Martin Connaghan, Samantha Fitzpatrick, Co-Managers of Murray International Trust PLC  Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House has unleashed a flurry of activity. However, while we have clarity on some areas of his policy agenda, companies across the world are still waiting to hear more on the issue that, arguably, affects them most – tariffs.   […]

The post Navigating the Trump tariffs  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Starting to save early can make a huge difference in your child’s future, providing them with the financial support they need for those big moments in life.  “An investment account is for life, children, not just for Christmas, so that’s the way we’re going this year.” It’s not a line to endear you to your […]

The post Investing for Children this Christmas  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Investment trusts: a versatile choice for long-term investors  Investment trusts have stood the test of time. The first investment trust was launched in the 1860s, “to give the investor of moderate means the same advantages as the large capitalists”. They have been fulfilling this role ever since, democratising access to investment markets and bringing choice […]

The post Investment trusts: a versatile choice for long-term investors  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLC  It has become a familiar refrain that the UK market lacks options for growth investors. Investors tend to turn to it for dividends, or for a naturally defensive tilt in a downturn, but the prevailing wisdom is that growth investors need to explore the stock markets of […]

The post Is the UK really a no-growth market?  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks, Co-Manager, abrdn Asia Focus plc  Emerging markets (EMs) played a big part in my formative years. My mother is Brazilian. My father is South African. I was born in Brazil and raised in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.  Later, when I began my investment career, South Africa was the first market for […]

The post Emerging markets: exploding the “risk” myth  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks, Co-Manager, abrdn Asia Focus plc  Trawl the internet for Indonesia’s most famous tourist attractions and the chances are you will soon be linked to a Komodo dragon. At least for faint-hearted visitors, whether such a creature truly qualifies as an “attraction” could be a moot point.  Komodo dragons are the largest lizards on […]

The post Indonesia’s hidden investment attractions  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

James Thom, Investment Manager, abrdn New India Investment Trust plc  Indian stock markets have regained some equilibrium after the shock of the General Election result. After some initial volatility, investors are starting to take a more sober look at the impact of Premier Modi’s stumble in the polls and whether it will impact economic reform.   […]

The post India’s post-election reckoning  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Gabriel Sacks, Manager, abrdn Asia Focus Abby Glennie, Manager, abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust Smaller company investors have always had to take the rough with the smooth. The price for higher long-term returns has often been higher volatility, with periods of sharp drawdowns and swift bounce backs. The past 18 months has been particularly […]

The post Is the tide about to turn for smaller companies? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Ben Ritchie and Rebecca Maclean, Co-managers, Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust plc  In the March budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt brought out a series of measures designed to revive the flagging fortunes of the UK stock market. He sought to draw investors back with a UK ISA, and measures for institutional investors. The broad principle of […]

The post The Budget: a winner for the UK stock market?  appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Abby Glennie and Amanda Yeaman, managers of Aberdeen UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust Investors in UK smaller companies are justified in feeling impatient. The turnaround in the sector has been slow to arrive, and poor sentiment has persisted far longer than justified by the on-the-ground experience of most smaller companies. However, a number of factors […]

The post Smaller companies: starting to turn? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Pruksa Iamthongthong and James Thom, co-managers of Asia Dragon Trust plc Asia is rich with growth stories: from Indonesia, where resource wealth is driving a consumer boom, to Vietnam, where foreign direct investment is an engine for change, to India, where sound economic management and innovation are creating new opportunities. But in 2023, investors focused […]

The post Beyond China: Asia’s growth stories appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

by Eric Chan, Investment Manager, abrdn Asian Income Fund Limited Eric Chan pens his thoughts on his recent trip to Australia, where he spoke to some of our holdings and potential prospects around their businesses and the broader macro outlook there. Purpose of the trip I wanted to get a better feel of where our […]

The post On The Road: Australia appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the demise of UK equity markets have been much exaggerated. Over 2023, UK companies have delivered strong operational performance, dividend growth and record levels of buybacks. Yet investor sentiment has remained bleak. We see a range of factors that might convince investors this is a market worth another look. […]

The post The return of UK equities appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

After almost 40 years with Aberdeen Asset Management (now abrdn) – including 28 years founding and running abrdn Asia Focus investment trust (AAS) – venerable Asia hand Hugh Young is finally to hang up his managerial boots, or at least leave them on the step for his teammate and successor Gabriel Sacks to step into. […]

The post Team ethos key for abrdn Asia Focus plc as pioneer Hugh Young retires appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLC At a time when investors can pick up a high income from bonds, the real value of a stock market portfolio is its ability to grow income and capital over time. This growth potential is particularly important when inflation is likely to be structurally higher, and preserving […]

The post Murray Income Trust: Keeping an eye on the long term for 100 years appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Will Fulton and Jamie Horton, Investment Managers, UK Commercial Property REIT Commercial property has faced two major challenges over the past 18 months. Rising interest rates led to the fastest revaluation of commercial property assets recorded, with reductions particularly felt at the lower yielding end of the market. At the same time economic conditions have […]

The post Commercial property: is the cycle turning? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Kristy Fong, Investment Manager, abrdn New India Investment Trust plc In a recent report, Goldman Sachs laid out India’s path to becoming the world’s second-largest economy over the next fifty years. This stated that India needed to seize its demographic advantage, using it to build manufacturing capacity, grow its burgeoning service sector, and continue the […]

The post India: seizing the moment appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Pruksa Iamthongthong and Adrian Lim, Investment Managers, Asia Dragon Trust plc The end of China’s zero Covid policy brought renewed confidence to Asian markets, as the country’s recovery promised to restore economic momentum to the region as a whole. However, China’s revival has proved lacklustre, and investors have retreated from Asian markets. What could bring […]

The post When will confidence return to Asian markets? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLC It is some years since UK equity income portfolios were the toast of the town for the core of an investment portfolio. Investors have been seduced by the charms of global income portfolios. After all, why not have the whole world at your fingertips rather than just […]

The post Equity income: the UK is now once again the most attractive market for the income investor appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Iain Pyle, Investment Manager, Shires Income plc It’s been a strong year for UK dividends, with underlying growth of 16.5% Corporate earnings have proved robust in spite of slowing economic activity Despite recent outperformance, the UK market remains close to a record discount when compared to other developed markets As the interest rate environment has […]

The post The building blocks for an income strategy: resilience, growth and diversification appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Troels Andersen, Fund Manager, abrdn European Logistics Income plc It has been a tough period for commercial real estate, with interest rates rising and capital values falling. The logistics sector has not been immune to this change and even though it continues to see low voids, strong demand and robust rental pricing, sentiment has been […]

The post Logistics: looking through short-term volatility appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Fran Radano, manager of The North American Income Trust The US Federal Reserve is likely to keep rates higher for longer, supporting more defensive positioning Income seekers have a wider range of options this year It is a better environment for ‘value’ companies, rather than high growth areas such as technology 2022 created a new […]

The post Income in the USA appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

There are many risks for the global economy in 2023, but there are also encouraging signs Asia is benefitting from the reopening of China and improving investor confidence Reliable cash flow and dividends are likely to be highly valued by investors this year Last year saw a significant adjustment in financial markets, as inflationary pressures […]

The post Green shoots for global markets in 2023? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

James Thom, Investment Manager, abrdn New Dawn Investment Trust plc After a tough year, 2023 starts on a more optimistic note for many Asian markets China’s reopening may fuel regional growth, while the interest rate cycle may support stock markets There will still be fragility in the year ahead and a focus on quality companies […]

The post A new dawn for Asian markets? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Ben Ritchie and Rebecca Maclean, Investment Managers, Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust PLC The painful adjustment to an environment of higher inflation and interest rates was the financial market story of 2022. A tough combination of the war in Ukraine, the legacy of the exceptional policy response to the pandemic and disrupted supply chains pushed […]

The post 2022: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLC UK dividends have seen a significant boost in 2022, but face challenges in the year ahead Currency, sector strength and improved dividend cover should all help dividend growth Higher quality companies should thrive in an environment of economic weakness UK dividends have made a strong recovery since […]

The post After a strong recovery, can UK dividends continue to thrive in the year ahead? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Kristy Fong, Investment Manager, Aberdeen New India Investment Trust PLC After two harrowing years of living through the pandemic, the festive season has arrived in India and is set to continue the sense of normalcy that has returned to India in recent times. Last month, we made our first trip back to the country since […]

The post Shining a light on India appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Will Fulton and Jamie Horton, Investment Managers, UK Commercial Property REIT In a tougher economic climate, the ESG credentials of individual property assets are increasingly likely to be the difference between stronger and weaker performers. We are achieving our net zero targets through a blend of careful restructuring of existing assets, selective sales and targeting […]

The post ESG factors are crucial in driving commercial property growth appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

After significant weakness earlier in 2022, both onshore and offshore Chinese equity markets have recently bounced back strongly. In the period from the end of April to July 22, the Shanghai A-share Index outperformed the S&P 500 Index by 11% and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index by 15%. This rebound came after Chinese equities had […]

The post Better times ahead for China equities? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Commercial property is one of the few asset classes to have delivered positive returns for the year to date However, headwinds are building in the form of higher inflation, rising interest rates and weakening economic growth Targeting structural growth sectors, careful asset selection and a focus on ESG will be vital in this environment  Commercial […]

The post Commercial property: resilience at a turbulent time appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

The difficulties in China have deterred investors from Asian markets This has created a widening gap between operational and share price performance The relative weakness in markets is creating opportunities In a tough first half of the year for financial markets, Asia has struggled more than most. The difficulties in China have deterred investors, with […]

The post Asia: long-term opportunities amid short-term noise appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Bruce Stout, Martin Connaghan and Samantha Fitzpatrick, Investment Managers, Murray International Trust PLC The unpredictable markets since the start of the year have forced a reappraisal of some recent investment themes Labels such as value, growth or quality are inadequate for investment decision-making Diversification and a focus on real assets are likely to be important […]

The post Beyond the noise: dealing with complex markets appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

When are defensive sectors not defensive? Ben Ritchie, Samantha Brownlee and Rebecca Maclean, Investment Managers, Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust PLC Stock markets have been volatile since the start of the year, with the Ukraine crisis and interest rate rises combining to unnerve investors. At Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust (DIGIT), we were already cautious […]

The post DIGEST: topical themes from Dunedin Income Growth appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLC Companies with the strongest operational performance are likely to see the greatest long-term appreciation in their share price There are an increasing number of companies with a notable gap between the movement of share prices and the underlying performance of the company This creates opportunities for active […]

The post Amid the volatility, assessing the real outlook for companies appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Will Fulton and Kerri Hunter, Investment Managers, UK Commercial Property REIT After a tough pandemic, commercial property recovered significantly in 2021 Industrials led the way, while segments of the retail and office markets remained weak The outlook for individual sectors within commercial property is diverging with asset selection increasingly important Commercial property was one of […]

The post Commercial property: the post-pandemic landscape appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

By Viktor Szabo, Investment Manager, abrdn Latin American Income Fund Limited There are two elements in the region’s favour: exciting companies and economic recovery The region has been hit disproportionately hard by global inflationary pressures, but this is likely to have peaked Economies are starting to recover, helped by high vaccination rates. Investing in Latin […]

The post A turning tide for Latin America? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

By Jason Baggaley, Investment Manager, Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust Limited Capital values and rental performance have proved resilient in the commercial property sector, despite some significant challenges. The market for high street retail, shopping centres and poor-quality offices remains difficult, in stark contrast to strong demand for industrial properties and logistics. This is […]

The post Commercial property: embracing change appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Dividends across the region look far healthier today than they did in 2020 Companies are still being careful to reinstate dividends only when earnings have recovered Inflation will be an important consideration for income investors in the region From Canadian mining companies at the top, to Brazilian government bonds at the bottom, the Americas offer […]

The post Income options from across the pond appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

China’s equity markets have grown into the second largest financial market in the world, after the US. This is a US$17 trillion market that is both deep and liquid. There are more than 5,000 Chinese companies listed onshore in mainland China and offshore, mostly in Hong Kong and the US, presenting vast opportunity. Chinese markets […]

The post Why China, why now? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

By Thomas Moore, Investment Manager, Aberdeen Standard Equity Income Trust  It’s now a little over five years since the Brexit referendum and over that period UK equities have found themselves decidedly unloved on account of several factors. These include: Substantial political uncertainty regarding the shape of the UK’s relationship with Europe Index being composed of […]

The post Why UK equities are back in favour appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

By Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income PLC In a see-saw year for markets, income generation in the Murray Income Trust has held up well Our key priorities in the Trust are to be ‘dependable’, ‘diversified’ and ‘differentiated’ We see better times ahead for the UK equity income sector This has been a see-saw year […]

The post Finding quality companies in volatile markets appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

The UK economy has seen a strong rebound since the lows of the pandemic The stock market has also moved forward as market leadership has changed Companies are in good shape, with dividends and earnings coming back strongly The UK is bouncing back. Economic growth is accelerating and the stock market has surged since the […]

The post The case for UK equities appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

By Ben Ritchie and Georgina Cooper, Investment Managers, Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust PLC There has been a decisive move among investors to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their analysis of companies. Poor management of risks around carbon emissions, water or labour rights put businesses in peril. For Dunedin Income Growth Investment […]

The post Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust: positioned for a changing world appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

The pandemic has brought significant shifts in key areas of the real estate market, such as offices and accelerated trends in others such as retail and logistics. Dealing with this changing environment means assessing deals individually and on their own merits. Effective management of individual assets, particularly around environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, and […]

The post Opportunity for change in real estate markets appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.

Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLC It’s a challenging time for investors, not least those in need of income generation. The coronavirus crisis continues to play out globally, with the UK hit worse than almost any other large economy at the start of 2021. Covid-19’s scars are likely to be with us for […]

The post Is the tide turning for UK income investing? appeared first on UK Investor Magazine.