Octopus Investments : Octopus Blog

Osborne’s Budget for the entrepreneur

2013-03-26T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Entrepreneurs, SMEs and investors in smaller companies across the UK should be breathing a sigh of relief when they read through more)

Incubator programmes have evolved to great launchpads for growing businesses

2013-01-31T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

UK incubator programmes are evolving. The attraction of a particular incubator or accelerator programme is no longer based on what building you choose to work from, but rather on the type of networ... (more)

Angels vs. VCs – the curse of the Devil’s Spawn

2013-01-14T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

I recently heard an angel investor describing venture capitalists as “the Devil’s Spawn”. To me this seems a bizarre comment. A number of today’s venture capitalists w... (more)

The dawn of a new era

2012-12-31T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

After months of hard work and preparation, the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) is finally with us. RDR is introducing some major changes in the way that advisers and investors agree their fees, an... (more)

Can the new Finance Bill proposals improve the outlook for UK plc?

2012-06-01T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Smaller companies are the lifeblood of the economy. Although it’s a well worn phrase, that doesn’t make it any less true. But with the UK economy still looking anaemic at present, many ... (more)

Are ETFs the next ‘financial weapons of mass destruction’?

2011-06-24T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has again expressed its concerns over exchange traded funds and their use by retail investors. A few days ago FSA director Sheila Nicoll said: “We share... (more)

IMA sector rebranding fails to address the real concerns about risk

2011-06-06T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

News that the Investment Management Association (IMA) is to rebrand three of its most popular investment sectors have been greeted with cynicism and incredulity by many in the industry. It has been... (more)

Equity markets: time for a reality check?

2011-05-31T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Equity and bond markets are telling two very different stories at the moment. On the one hand, UK gilt yields are implying that the sum of growth plus inflation will average 3.3% over the next decade.... (more)

Promoting enterprise in the UK

2011-05-10T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Now that the dust has settled on March’s Budget, we thought it would be a good time to take stock of some of the government’s announcements, specifically those designed to promote enter... (more)

As one tax year ends, another one begins...

2011-04-08T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The tax year end is always a very busy time for investors and investment managers, something which intensified this year after the government introduced a Budget that offered considerable incentive... (more)

Budget response

2011-03-23T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

The government’s message has been clear for months – this Budget was always going to be about paving the way for future economic growth. Chancellor George Osborne delivered a business-f... (more)

A ray of sunshine for VCT and EIS investors

2011-03-18T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

The Government has today issued an update with regards to investments in solar projects: the “Consultation on fast-track review of Feed-in Tariffs for small scale low carbon electricity&rdquo... (more)

Earthquake in Japan: markets update

2011-03-15T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Across the world, people are still trying to come to terms with the magnitude of the destruction and the loss of life caused by one of Japan’s worst ever earthquakes, and the tsunami that fol... (more)

Tax simplification and tax solutions

2011-03-04T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Investors in tax-efficient solutions, like Venture Capital Trusts (VCT), Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) and inheritance tax (IHT) products and ser... (more)

Solar energy and Octopus solutions

2011-02-17T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

There has been a lot of discussion recently following the government's announcement that they are going to review the Feed in Tariff for solar energy installations, including in the FT more)

Consolidation should be the key trend this ISA season

2011-02-03T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

As one tax year draws to a close the next begins, and with it comes the annual debate about where ISA savers should be investing to make the most of their yearly tax-free allowance. The good news is t... (more)

Markets update

2011-01-17T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Wednesday’s auction of Portuguese debt gave us further indications that the sovereign debt crisis, although not going away any time soon, will continue to be managed in order to prevent a Eur... (more)

The folly of forecasting

2011-01-14T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” – JK Galbraith

Forecasting the future can be fun and exciting, but it’s simply not ... (more)

Putting the sentiment shift into perspective

2011-01-10T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Momentum is with risk assets at present. The implementation of QE2 back in November appeared to quieten down the bears and draw a line under the likelihood of a double dip recession. That said, the... (more)

Driving returns

2011-01-05T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Following several articles from me in December 2010, we arrive at the fourth and final article in this series. I looked first at risk profiling and reflecting this in investments. Secondly, I looke... (more)

Hopes and concerns for 2011

2010-12-31T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

How will you remember 2010? Was it a year of frustration, when ash clouds, snow or other unforeseen obstructions made it feel like forward planning was largely useless, or was it a year when, despi... (more)

Octopus end of year round up

2010-12-24T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

It's always good to end the year feeling that everything is in order, including your financial affairs. At Octopus, we're pleased to be able t... (more)

Not as alternative as you think

2010-12-22T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

A strategy can be seen as a plan of attack, something which is used by all the best military commanders and business leaders. It's therefore no su... (more)

UK smaller companies in 2011

2010-12-20T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

This is the time of year when the newspapers are full of tips for the next twelve months and of course we'd buy them all if we could, but amidst t... (more)

Looking for a better basket

2010-12-14T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Diversity may be the ‘spice of life’, but it is also the key to a well rounded investment portfolio. In my last article, I discussed the idea of ‘risk profiling’. This estab... (more)

Business angel funding

2010-12-10T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Business angels play a highly important part in the investment eco-systems for small unquoted businesses that wish to access capital. As the entrepren... (more)

Looking at the markets long and short term

2010-12-07T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

As we near the end of what has been a volatile year for markets, we can consider the outlook for both the long and short term. Long term, all macro economic data indicates a sustained, albeit unspe... (more)

Risk profiling for a common language and a better service

2010-12-03T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Using money for financial planning allows us to keep score. This involves setting what we have and earn now, and what we may have in the future (our a... (more)

Octopus multi manager funds

2010-11-29T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

At Octopus, the range of solutions we offer has continued to evolve in response to customers' needs. For this reason, multi manager funds - portfolios of funds investing across the globe in man... (more)

The importance of outsourced investment solutions

2010-11-23T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

As the date for the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) approaches, both financial advisers and product providers are wrestling with how to evolve their business models to accommoda... (more)

Influences on market progress

2010-11-05T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

While cuts were announced in the recent spending review, and the daily papers tell us of the age of austerity, it's useful to take a broader view. There are three major factors we can consider ... (more)

Using hedge funds within an absolute return multi manager portfolio

2010-11-02T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

In running multi-manager portfolios of funds, part of our work involves structuring relevant strategies and finding the most appropriate specialists in the field to invest in. The multi manager IM&nbs... (more)

Mind the gap in funding for UK SMEs

2010-10-29T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

On Monday this week, I attended the annual conference held by the Confederation of British Industry. With UK businesses so crucial to economic recovery... (more)

Ten years for Octopus

2010-10-22T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

This month marks a very special point in the progress of Octopus: it's ten years since we launched the company. We're really excited about how far we've come over the last decade - Octo... (more)

Octopus and seed funding

2010-10-18T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Last week, The Daily Telegraph reported Octopus' seed investment into Touchtype. The company is the developer of Swiftkey, innovative software app... (more)

Multi manager - managing choices

2010-10-07T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

A major feature of modern life is the extent of choice we all have. On the high street there are supermarkets and shops stacked with goods, at home we have televisions with scores of channels, and ... (more)

Absolute return team and strategies

2010-10-01T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Octopus' range of absolute return funds has grown over the last two years. Having started with the CF Octopus Absolute UK Equity fund, launched in ... (more)

Octopus is recruiting

2010-09-24T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Octopus is recruiting! We continue to grow and some of you may know that we recently moved offices to accommodate the increasing numbers of ‘Octo... (more)

The potential in the UK smaller companies market

2010-09-09T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The UK smaller companies market, one of the most dynamic and historically highest return sectors of the UK stock market, is ripe for discovery, and current indicators are positive. The smaller compani... (more)

From Goldilocks to Noah: ancient tales apply in tough economic times

2010-09-07T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Before the recent financial crisis we were supposedly living in a ‘Goldilocks’ economy, with all the conditions for a perfect economic porridge. The economy was at a warm temperature wi... (more)

Making the most of special situations

2010-09-03T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Our focus in the Absolute European Fund is on ‘special situations’. A technical definition would be an investment case that is specific to a company as a result of an anticipated event.... (more)

How discretionary managers can help advisers best serve investors

2010-08-20T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Discretionary management, as a bespoke investment service tailored to individual needs, appeals to many investors. When advisers are looking at this kind of service for investors, they need to know... (more)

Diversification within asset classes

2010-08-09T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Diversification is all about reducing risk through investing in a wide range of different assets. Managers of multi manager funds can work to achieve ... (more)

Signposts to recovery

2010-08-06T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The debate rages on between those that believe the global economy is heading back into recession, the so called double-dip, and t... (more)

The importance of government intervention to smaller companies

2010-07-22T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The recent emergency Budget served to emphasise the importance of Government intervention in supporting the provision of ‘risk finance' to th... (more)

Market views on news

2010-07-13T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Markets remain unsettled. They're still reacting predominantly to bad news rather than good, and there's still a fear among many investors of a double dip recession. Markets are very sentiment... (more)

Is this the double dip?

2010-07-09T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

For some time it has been hard to resolve the micro versus macro debate, i.e. company fortunes versus the wider economic context. The bulls point to cu... (more)

Positive aspects of the Retail Distribution Review

2010-06-30T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Within the financial services sector, the financial advisory industry has been through a lot of change. The number of new regulations over the last 15 years leaves me in no doubt that this has contrib... (more)

Investing in volatile markets

2010-06-24T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Markets have been extremely volatile lately and described as very difficult - this is what many investors will have been hearing from fund managers. In fund manager speak, volatility is often a euphem... (more)

Getting more from less through innovation

2010-06-11T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Right now our new Government is beginning the task of improving our national finances and trying to retain the benefits we all expect from public services. Unfortunately, we don’t have any pr... (more)

Fear in the markets

2010-06-04T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Fear is stalking the markets once again. Investors have become extremely sensitive to even the slightest sign of bad news. It is rare to see equity markets reacting the way they have over the past ... (more)

Efficient markets? No way!

2010-06-03T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

There are various schools of thought about how financial markets operate. Some subscribe to the efficient market hypothesis. This states that all publi... (more)

A new Government and tax is very much on the agenda

2010-05-28T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

A new Government is in place, but policy will continue to evolve. The forthcoming emergency budget on 22 June will provide some clarity around how the Cabinet intends to help restore economic stabilit... (more)

Lost in translation: the German short selling ban

2010-05-20T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

Germany's decision to unilaterally ban naked short selling of European government bonds and certain German financial stocks has ricocheted through global stock markets, leading to a global stoc... (more)

One year over and another one begins...

2010-05-07T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

At Octopus, we have an April year end for the overall business as well as the Absolute Return fund. Octopus has gone from strength to strength over the last year and we’re all excited about t... (more)

A view on Greece

2010-05-06T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

As many newspapers have recently punned, Greece is the word. The country's debt troubles have been one of the lead news stories of the last month, and with good reason. Its situation concerns t... (more)

European absolute return funds

2010-04-28T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The European market holds much potential for investors, yet concerns over currency fluctuations, countries’ national debts, and the complexity of the region can all deter UK based investors. ... (more)

Getting technical on equities

2010-04-19T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

There are diverging views on the correct response to the recent 60-100% rally in global equity markets. Some will say that stocks are overvalued and that current buyers are simply buying because th... (more)

The progress of smaller companies

2010-04-16T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The first quarter of 2010 has been a frustrating time for investors in small AIM shares. After a strong performance for many shar... (more)

What is the prognosis after the first quarter of 2010?

2010-04-09T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

We're seen many positives in the first quarter of 2010, which provide a firm foundation for the rest of the year. The global ... (more)

Budget 2010 - Octopus view

2010-03-25T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

The 2010 Budget was preceded by great anticipation. Yet, following the announcement, it is clear that this year's Budget doesn... (more)

The value in smaller companies

2010-03-11T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Markets continue to be described as volatile, the translation being ‘investors are finding it almost impossible to identify ... (more)

Reading the tea leaves...

2010-03-10T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

After a few poor days on the Absolute Return fund I am left nursing my losses and analysing whether my positioning is correct. I have moved to a net short position with a bias towards being short cycl... (more)

What is bothering the markets?

2010-03-10T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

The past few weeks have seen economic data and news flow playing out across the markets each week. If 2009 was all about banks, t... (more)

Do failed flotations show that the stock market is shut or displaying great value?

2010-03-03T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Do you remember that one of the themes of 2010 was going to be the revival of flotations or at least so said the pundits at the end of 2009?

You would be forgiven if you thought that the stoc... (more)

VCTs - a long-term investment solution

2010-02-19T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

VCTs are best known as tax efficient vehicles and with good reason: they offer a range of tax benefits, the main one being a 30% tax rebate on the amount investment, alongside the potential for tax-fr... (more)

Is this the double dip?

2010-02-05T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

As I write this my Bloomberg screen is awash with red figures. The Dow Jones is down over 200 points, copper is falling fast and we are watching the market's ‘Santa rally' of December... (more)

Are you an Octopod?

2010-01-29T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

In last week's blog we talked about issues around the working life of advisers, and this week we thought we'd let you know about working at ... (more)

The Retail Distribution Review

2010-01-22T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Many changes have already taken place within financial services and there are more on the way as both the Government and industry work towards ensurin... (more)

2010 – A smoother ride ahead?

2010-01-13T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

After 2009, many investors will be hoping for a nice steady, small ‘up' year for the markets. Will we get it? I think we might g... (more)

Multi Manager 2010 outlook

2010-01-04T00:00:00.0000000+00:00

Our patient is in remission but requires round the clock supervision

Coming into 2009 the global economy was very sick indeed, with the financial system still reeling from ne... (more)