Forsyth-OBSR upgrades Newton Managed Fund

Forsyth-OBSR has upgraded Newton’s £1.4 billion Managed Fund from A to AA rating on the back of consistently solid returns.

The fund, which is managed by Nick Clay, is in the IMA Active Managed sector. Clay manages the fund in accordance with the long-standing Newton approach of identifying global investment themes and selecting stocks and sectors that are set to benefit.

Gillian Hutchison, Investment Research Director at OBSR, commented: “We have decided to upgrade the OBSR Fund Rating to AA in recognition of the continued strength of Newton’s global thematic process and Nick Clay’s ability to work well within the framework of this process. The fund has delivered solid returns under his stewardship.”

The fund is designed to offer investors the opportunity for capital growth from a wide range of equity and fixed interest investments from around the world. Current themes important to Clay include telecommunication, investing in networks, agriculture, with holdings in fertilizer and seed companies, and alternative energy. The top three holdings in the portfolio are Vodafone Group Plc, BP Plc and GlaxoSmithKline Plc.

Clay has increased his allocation to corporate bonds for the first time in four years, and consistent with the rest of the Newton portfolios, the fund is underweight financials.

Nick Clay, commenting on the fund’s upgrade, said: “In today’s economic environment of continued stock market volatility, it is great to be recognised by Forsyth-OBSR for delivering consistent returns.”