Education Centre
When you invest in an Investment Trust you gain access to a wide range of investments. An Investment Trust can be an effective way of spreading risk by investing in a diversified, managed portfolio.
What are Investment Trusts?
The Merchants Trust PLC is a listed public company that invests in other companies and is quoted on the London Stock Exchange. Investment trusts invest in a wide range of different assets such as the shares and securities of other companies that trade on the world’s stock markets. By investing in an investment trust you gain access to a wider range of investments than you could normally buy yourself. Your investment is also managed by a professional fund manager. Investment trusts are 'closed-end funds' as there are a fixed number of shares and this number does not usually change regardless of the number of investors. The price of the shares reflects the value of the underlying holdings of the trust, but is also affected by the demand for the shares. For example, if there are more buyers than sellers, the share price tends to rise and vice versa.
A meeting held once a year where shareholders can find out how their company is doing, ask questions of the directors and vote on key issues.
A report prepared by a company each year after its year end. It sets out what the company does, how it has performed over the year and its financial position.
The annual report typically contains a financial summary, a chairman's statement and a portfolio review from the fund manager.
A statement on corporate governance and a detailed set of financial statements also forms part of the annual report.
The annual report typically contains a financial summary, a chairman's statement and a portfolio review from the fund manager.
A statement on corporate governance and a detailed set of financial statements also forms part of the annual report.
The AIC is the trade body for investment trust companies. Visit www.theaic.co.uk for further information.
An index or other measure against which the performance of an investment trust is compared.
The annual report and accounts will normally compare the Trust's performance with its benchmark and also include an explanation for any under or over performance.
The annual report and accounts will normally compare the Trust's performance with its benchmark and also include an explanation for any under or over performance.
The price at which you sell your shares. It is sometimes shown as the 'sell' price and will be the lower of the two prices shown.
The difference between the prices at which you can buy and sell shares. It can also be known as the 'dealing spread'.
When you buy and sell investment trust shares you may see two prices quoted. The 'offer' price is the price that you would pay to buy the shares and the 'bid' price is the price you can sell the shares for.
The difference between the offer price and the bid price is known as the bid-offer spread.
When you buy and sell investment trust shares you may see two prices quoted. The 'offer' price is the price that you would pay to buy the shares and the 'bid' price is the price you can sell the shares for.
The difference between the offer price and the bid price is known as the bid-offer spread.
A trust is known as closed ended because it has a fixed number of shares in issue.
The closed ended structure allows fund managers to take a long term view on their investments as the number of shares will stay the same even when there are more sellers than buyers.
The closed ended structure allows fund managers to take a long term view on their investments as the number of shares will stay the same even when there are more sellers than buyers.
This is an investment 'vehicle' where investors pool their money and invest in a portfolio of assets with other investors.
A fund manager then invests this money on behalf of the investors, with the aim of providing economies of scale, risk diversification and professional fund management expertise.
Because you're investing in a fund that holds a number of different investments, you are not reliant on the fortunes of just one or two investments.
Investment Trusts are collective investment funds, as are Unit Trusts and OEICs.
A fund manager then invests this money on behalf of the investors, with the aim of providing economies of scale, risk diversification and professional fund management expertise.
Because you're investing in a fund that holds a number of different investments, you are not reliant on the fortunes of just one or two investments.
Investment Trusts are collective investment funds, as are Unit Trusts and OEICs.
A debenture is a form of long-term loan that usually pays a fixed rate of interest and is normally repayable on a fixed date.
This is the amount by which the share price is less than the net asset value per share.
If you buy shares at a discount this means that you will be paying less than Net Asset Value.
If an investment trust trades at a discount to net asset value this could present a buying opportunity, although the discount could subsequently widen rather than narrow.
If a Trust's NAV is 100p but its share price is only 90p the Trust is trading at a discount of 10% (shown as -10%).
If you buy shares at a discount this means that you will be paying less than Net Asset Value.
If an investment trust trades at a discount to net asset value this could present a buying opportunity, although the discount could subsequently widen rather than narrow.
If a Trust's NAV is 100p but its share price is only 90p the Trust is trading at a discount of 10% (shown as -10%).
This is income that is paid from an investment in shares.
Not all investment trusts pay income but those that do can choose to pay dividends monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually. This is the amount by which the share price is less than the net asset value per share.
Some investment trusts have a long history of focusing on income for shareholders but such income is not guaranteed and may fall as well as rise.
Not all investment trusts pay income but those that do can choose to pay dividends monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually. This is the amount by which the share price is less than the net asset value per share.
Some investment trusts have a long history of focusing on income for shareholders but such income is not guaranteed and may fall as well as rise.
This is the annual level of dividend expressed as a percentage of the current share price.
It is important to remember that future dividends may be higher or lower than indicated by the current dividend yield.
It is important to remember that future dividends may be higher or lower than indicated by the current dividend yield.
At its simplest, gearing means endeavouring to enhance returns by borrowing money to buy more assets. A trust does this in the hope that it makes enough profit to pay back the debt and interest and return something extra for shareholders.
Although Gearing can boost a Trust's returns when investments perform well, losses can be magnified when investments lose value.
Although Gearing can boost a Trust's returns when investments perform well, losses can be magnified when investments lose value.
This is a report prepared by a Trust half way through its financial year, setting out the same type of information as its annual report and accounts but in less detail.
The half-yearly report may also be referred to as the interim report.
The half-yearly report may also be referred to as the interim report.
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) is not an investment in its own right but rather a 'wrapper' in which you hold investments.
An ISA allows you to save cash or invest in shares without paying tax.
Maximum overall annual subscription limits apply to ISAs and these may change at the beginning of each tax year.
An ISA allows you to save cash or invest in shares without paying tax.
Maximum overall annual subscription limits apply to ISAs and these may change at the beginning of each tax year.
A company employed by an investment trust in order to provide investment management and administrative/secretarial services.
Allianz Global Investors UK Limited (AllianzGI) is the management company for Allianz Technology Trust, The Brunner Investment Trust and The Merchants Trust.
Allianz Global Investors UK Limited (AllianzGI) is the management company for Allianz Technology Trust, The Brunner Investment Trust and The Merchants Trust.
The price at which you buy your shares. It is sometimes shown as the 'buy' price and will be the higher of the two prices shown.
The OCF is published annually in order to indicate the level of operational expenses incurred in the running of the trust.
The OCF covers investment management and administrative fees as well as other fees.
The OCF can help you compare the annual operating expenses of different investment trusts (and funds in general).
The OCF covers investment management and administrative fees as well as other fees.
The OCF can help you compare the annual operating expenses of different investment trusts (and funds in general).
These are funds where the number of shares in issue varies from day to day, dependent on demand.
Open Ended Investment Companies (OEICs) and Unit Trusts are open ended funds.
Open Ended Investment Companies (OEICs) and Unit Trusts are open ended funds.
This is the difference between a share's bid price and its offer price.
This is a tax payable on the purchase of shares, including investment trust shares.
The tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April of the following year.
This is the annual income return you receive from holding certain investments.
The yield of a share is calculated using the latest full year dividend divided by the current share price.
Some investment trusts are focused purely on capital growth in which case they will not pay a dividend (so that the dividend yield will be zero).
The yield of a share is calculated using the latest full year dividend divided by the current share price.
Some investment trusts are focused purely on capital growth in which case they will not pay a dividend (so that the dividend yield will be zero).