Structured products
Retail bonds could be part of solution for ailing European sovereigns
Barclays Capital economist says Spain and Portugal should look to replicate Italian government in tapping retail investors for future bond deals.
KID Roundtable
The European Union plans to introduce the Key Information Document, a shortform document that will make investing in structured products easier. Richard Jory talks to structured products professionals about the form for the initiative
Knowledge is power for IFAs
The financial crisis has inspired independent financial advisers to offer more structured products to their investor clients. This change has been bolstered by the educational and training initiatives that have helped to give 75% of IFAs some form of…
UK issuance data: key statistics
A comprehensive breakdown of issuance data for the UK stuctured products industry since 2006, including numbers of products issued, underlyings and typical maturities
Product review: Investec provides ratings choice
Investors can choose between a triple B and a single A rated bank issuer in this five-year rollover plan, and receive different coupon payments on the basis of their choice as long as index levels are above the strike level at product anniversaries
Product review: Risking the first 10%
Gilliat Financial Solutions is offering a six-year income product linked to the FTSE 100 that promises a fixed coupon as well as bonus payments, but only if investors are prepared to put 10% of their capital at risk
Product review: Barclays UK accumulator
Barclays has offered an accumulator product based on the FTSE 100, with lock-ins for every 15% rise in the index subject to a 60% cap. If the index does not trade above a 115% strike level and the 50% protection barrier is breached, capital is not…
Product review: Blue Sky offers downside protection
A six-year growth product from Blue Sky Asset Management that is relatively complex for retail investors. The product links to the FTSE 100 and gives accumulated returns up to an annual cap of 12%
The highs and Lowes
Lowes Financial Management thinks education is what the UK’s independent financial advisers need most. Understanding structured products and the market has helped Lowes weather the fallout from precipice bonds in the late 1990s and the decade that…
Naming the counterparty: how far would you go?
The debate in the UK over counterparty naming and inclusion of the issuer prospectus in marketing material for structured products continues. Richard Jory asks industry professionals what should be revealed and what is the minimum credit rating retail…
UK providers go back to basics
At a time when there is little innovation in payouts, structured products providers in the UK are looking at ways to broaden the investor base by offering more stock exchange-listed products and funds, and take market share from the vast fund sector…
